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Gender-Based Risk and Protective Factors for Psychological Distress in the Midterm Recovery Period Following the Great East Japan Earthquake

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 August 2018

Aya Ishiguro ,
Machiko Inoue ,
Jane Fisher ,
Mariko Inoue ,
Shoko Matsumoto  and
Kazue Yamaoka
Aya Ishiguro*
Affiliation:
Jean Hailes Research Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
Machiko Inoue
Affiliation:
Department of Family and Community Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Shizuoka, Japan Shizuoka Family Medicine Training Program, Shizuoka, Japan
Jane Fisher
Affiliation:
Jean Hailes Research Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
Mariko Inoue
Affiliation:
Graduate School of Public Health, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan
Shoko Matsumoto
Affiliation:
Graduate School of Public Health, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan AIDS Clinical Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
Kazue Yamaoka
Affiliation:
Graduate School of Public Health, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Aya Ishiguro, 2-11-1 Kaga, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-8605, Japan (e-mail: aishiguro@med.teikyo-u.ac.jp)
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Abstract

Objectives

Women and men might experience psychological distress differently during a disaster. This study investigated gender differences in the factors associated with psychological distress among working-age people 1 to 2 years after the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Methods

A cross-sectional household survey of victims who remained living in their homes was conducted between May and December 2012 in Ishinomaki City, Japan. Psychological distress was defined as a Kessler Psychological Distress Scale ≥5, and gender differences were examined using a logistic regression analysis.

Results

Data were obtained from 2593 individuals, and 1537 participants were included in the analyses. Psychological distress was observed in 28.0% of the participants. Living in a household without a salaried income and a low frequency of leaving the house were associated with psychological distress among women. Young age, lack of occupation and no informational support were associated with psychological distress among men. Income change due to the disaster and health complaints were associated with psychological distress in both genders.

Conclusions

For women, stable household income and frequently leaving the house can be protective factors. For men, intervention focusing on young people, occupational support, and informational support may be useful. Income change after the disaster and health complaints may be risk factors in both genders. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2019;13:487-496)

Keywords

natural disasterspsychological distressgender differenceworking age
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 13 , Issue 3 , June 2019 , pp. 487 - 496
Copyright
Copyright © 2018 Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 

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