Association between the social isolation and depressive symptoms after the great East Japan earthquake: findings from the baseline survey of the TMM CommCohort study

Abstract

Background Social isolation and mental health issues have become a severe problem in disaster areas in the Great East Japan Earthquake. This study examined whether the combination of the house damage and social isolation or the combination of the death of family members and social isolation is associated with depressive symptoms among survivors using the baseline study data of the Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Community-Based Cohort Study (TMM CommCohort Study). Methods We used cross-sectional data from a baseline survey of 48,958 participants (18,423 males, 30,535 females; aged 60.1 ± 11.2 years) to examine the association between social isolation measured by the Lubben social network scale 6 (LSNS-6) and depressive symptoms measured by the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depressive Scale (CES-D). The presence of social isolation and depressive symptoms was defined by an LSNS-6 score of < 12 and a CES-D score of ≥16, respectively. We performed a logistic regression analysis to determine the multivariable-adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) [AOR (95% CI)] for depressive symptoms according to sex in the social isolation in comparison to without social isolation, and the associations of the combination of the house damage or the death of family members and social isolation and depressive symptoms. Results Social isolation was significantly associated with depressive symptoms (males: OR = 1.87; 95% CI = 1.72–2.04, females: OR = 2.13; 95% CI = 2.00–2.26). Both males and females respondents with severe house damage and social isolation had a greater risk of depressive symptoms in comparison to those with an undamaged house and without social isolation (males: OR = 3.40; 95% CI = 2.73–4.24, females: OR = 2.92; 95% CI = 2.46–3.46). The risk of depressive symptoms was also higher in both males and females respondents with the death of family members and social isolation in comparison to those without the death of family members and without social isolation (males: OR = 2.18; 95% CI = 1.90–2.50, females: OR = 2.60; 95% CI = 2.35–2.88). Conclusion The findings suggested that a combination of social isolation and severe house damage and the death of family members caused by a large-scale natural disaster was associated with a higher risk of depressive symptoms although the interaction was not statistically significant.

Investigating the Impact of Isolation During COVID-19 on Family Functioning – An Australian Snapshot

“…Lockdown has also been associated with an increase in family violence ( Campbell, 2020 ; Gadermann et al, 2021 ), economic hardship ( Fegert et al, 2020 ); increased alcohol consumption ( Gadermann et al, 2021 ); a decrease in exercise ( Deschasaux-Tanguy et al, 2021 ); and a global sense of loss and grief ( de Jong et al, 2020 ). These findings are consistent with studies conducted during the SARS pandemic ( Blendon et al, 2004 ) and natural disasters ( Cao et al, 2013 ; Pujadas Botey and Kulig, 2014 ; Kotozaki et al, 2021 ; O’Donohue et al, 2021 ), suggesting a relationship between social isolation and poor social, mental, and physical health outcomes.…”

Depression, Insomnia, and Probable Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder among Survivors of the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake and Related Factors during the Recovery Period Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Social networks and social capital have been investigated with regard to health and social relationships among earthquake survivors. Two years after the GEJE, social isolation measured using the Lubben Social Network Scale 6 was significantly associated with depressive symptoms evaluated using the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depressive Scale [ 47 ]. Among survivors of the GEJE, those who considered community trust weak in 2011 had significantly higher Athens Insomnia Scale scores, a measure of sleep disturbance, for the entire period up to 2017 [ 48 ].…”

Lessons learned from psychosocial support and mental health surveys during the 10 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake: Establishing evidence‐based disaster psychiatry

“…16 The data suggested that a combination of social isolation and severe house damage, alongside the death of family members, was associated with a higher risk of depressive symptoms, although the interaction was not statistically significant. 19 In addition to the above cohorts, ToMMo conducted a cross-sectional study from 2012 to 2015 to investigate and address the health needs of school children affected by this disaster, providing follow-up support to the cases in need. 20 The study found factors associated with children's health in post-disaster settings, for example, a significant association between the severity of eczema and mental health problems.…”