<p>No Associations of Psychological Symptoms and Suicide Risk with Disaster Experiences in Junior High School Students 5 Years After the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami</p>

Abstract

Introduction: Natural disasters such as earthquakes can cause substantial damage and trauma, especially to children. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of disaster experience on psychological symptoms, suicide risk, and associated factors in junior high school students 5 years after the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE). The hypothesis of this study was that psychological symptoms and suicide risk of junior high school students are associated with disaster experience. Methods: A cross-sectional survey consisting of questionnaires and face-to-face interviews with students at two junior high schools in Ishinomaki city, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, about psychological symptoms, disaster situations, and their current environment 5 years after the GEJE was conducted. In total, data from 264 (117 boys [44.3%] and 147 girls [55.7%]) students were analyzed. Results: There were no associations between disaster experience and PTSSC-15, DSRS-C, and SCAS scores. Those with evacuation experience and still living in temporary housing had significantly higher scores on the oppositional defiant behavior inventory (ODBI). Of these students, 29 (11.0%) were considered to have suicide risk 5 years after the GEJE. The presence of depressive symptoms was the only factor related to suicide risk; no associations were found with sex, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, or other factors reported in previous studies, including disaster experience. Conclusions: Disaster experience was not associated with psychological symptoms (PTSD, depression, anxiety) and suicide risk in junior high school students 5 years after the GEJE. The suicide risk appears to be the same as that in the general population in Japan. However, attention should be paid to externalization problems and depressive symptoms, an important suicide risk factor, even 5 years after the GEJE.

Suicide and Suicide Prevention Activities Following the Great East Japan Earthquake 2011: A Literature Review

“…These studies were conducted in the three-year period following the GEJE [ 20 , 21 , 22 ]. However, one study that targeted junior high school students showed no significant association with disaster-related experiences, and this was conducted five years after the disaster, indicating that the psychological effects of the disaster may have subsided over time [ 23 ].…”

Psychological Status Associated With Low Quality of Life in School-Age Children With Neurodevelopmental Disorders During COVID-19 Stay-At-Home Period

“…The children were asked to self-administer the following questionnaires to assess their clinical status: Kidd-KINDL R (8–13 years) or Kiddo-KINDL R (14–17 years) ( 24 , 25 ), the Depression Self-Rating Scale for Children (DSRS-C) ( 26 ), the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS) ( 26 , 27 ), and a visual analog scale (VAS) for temporary mood status in terms of percentages of the best imaginable state ( 28 , 29 ). The parents assessed the maladaptive behaviors of their children using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) ( 30 ).…”

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

“…24,25 The National Center for Global Health and Medicine conducted city-wide longitudinal surveys of kindergarten, elementary school, and junior high school children, observing the recovery course of traumatic symptoms. [26][27][28][29][30][31] The Department of Health Informatics and Public Health, Tohoku University School of Public Health, conducted longitudinal surveys of the residential registry for Ajishima, Ogatsu, Oshika, and Ishinomaki City, as well as residents who were living in prefabricated temporary housing in Wakabayashi-ku, Sendai City, and Miyagi Prefecture. The study indicated that psychological distress was associated with an increased risk of musculoskeletal pain among survivors 32 and functional disability among elderly survivors of a natural disaster.…”

“…The Health and Life Revival Council in Ishinomaki District conducted cross‐sectional household surveys, highlighting the importance of economic factors for the affected communities and emotional support, especially for the elderly disaster victims 24,25 . The National Center for Global Health and Medicine conducted city‐wide longitudinal surveys of kindergarten, elementary school, and junior high school children, observing the recovery course of traumatic symptoms 26–31 …”