Social trust predicts sleep disorder at 6 years after the Great East Japan earthquake: data from a prospective cohort study

Abstract

Background: The physical and psychological health impacts on victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE) have lasted for a long time. Some cross-sectional studies have reported a relationship between social networks and/or social support and mental health among victims. Previous studies were cross-sectional observations at one time point after a disaster, it remains unclear whether the lack of social trust soon after the GEJE predicts long-term mental health outcomes among the victims. The objective of the present study was to examine prospectively the association between social trust soon after the GEJE and trends in sleep disorders up to 6 years after the GEJE. Methods: We conducted a health survey on residents living in two areas affected by the GEJE. We analyzed data from 1293 adults (aged ≥18 years) who had participated in an initial health survey. The participants responded to a self-administrated questionnaire composed of items on health condition, mental health, including sleep disorders (based on the Athens Insomnia Scale [AIS]), and social trust. We classified the participants into two categories (high or low) based on the level of social trust at the first health survey. A linear mixed model was used to estimate trends in AIS scores in relation to social trust at the first health survey. Results: The AIS scores of participants in the low social trust group were significantly higher than those in the high social trust group throughout the 6 years after the GEJE (P < 0.01). After adjusting for some covariates, the AIS score estimate for the participants who had low social trust was 1.30 point higher than those for the participants who had high social trust. Conclusion: Social trust at 3 to 5 months after the GEJE predicted AIS scores at 6 years after the GEJE among victims. This finding suggests that it may be possible to identify people who have a lower potential for mental resilience from disaster damage over the long term. Further, health interventions for this high-risk group could help promote resilience after a disaster.

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

“…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 ]. However, little is known about its association between insomnia and loneliness.…”

The Evolutionarily Mismatched Impact of Urbanization on Insomnia Symptoms: a Short Review of the Recent Literature

“…In a similar vein, Sugawara and colleagues reported that having the perception that those in one's community were undependable months following a natural disaster was predictive of greater insomnia issues over the subsequent 6-year span (B ranges from "−0.007" to "−0.013" in different analytical models that have controlled for different relevant factors) (p. 5) [74]. Yet, like some of the evidence base associated with the other factors, the overall dearth of a healthy assortment of longitudinal findings (or even just enough relevant findings in general), with the exception of some initial data (e.g., [74]), has rendered it difficult to make any clear-cut conclusion.…”

“…As an example, findings from Alhasan and colleagues' study have suggested that insomnia complaints were more pronounced among individuals residing in an area with little "neighborhood social cohesion" in contrast to their more closely knit counterparts (with a prevalence ratio of "1.26" after accounting for other relevant factors) (p. 7) [73]. In a similar vein, Sugawara and colleagues reported that having the perception that those in one's community were undependable months following a natural disaster was predictive of greater insomnia issues over the subsequent 6-year span (B ranges from "−0.007" to "−0.013" in different analytical models that have controlled for different relevant factors) (p. 5) [74]. Yet, like some of the evidence base associated with the other factors, the overall dearth of a healthy assortment of longitudinal findings (or even just enough relevant findings in general), with the exception of some initial data (e.g., [74]), has rendered it difficult to make any clear-cut conclusion.…”

“…In contrast to the diversity of findings in relation to the influence of physical activity (and to a lesser extent, screen time), there were relatively fewer pieces of empirical evidence on how one's sense of connection with their neighbors/ community and how dependable they are could affect the presence of insomnia symptoms. On the whole, there is a broad trend suggesting that such a sense of connectedness/ belief was linked to lesser insomnia symptoms, with most studies advocating this general view (e.g., [40,[72][73][74]). As an example, findings from Alhasan and colleagues' study have suggested that insomnia complaints were more pronounced among individuals residing in an area with little "neighborhood social cohesion" in contrast to their more closely knit counterparts (with a prevalence ratio of "1.26" after accounting for other relevant factors) (p. 7) [73].…”

Sleep disturbance is associated with neck pain: a 3-year longitudinal study after the Great East Japan Earthquake

“…Although reports of neck pain after natural disasters are rare, the prevalence of neck pain was reported to be high after the GEJE, and deteriorated subjective economic conditions were associated with neck pain onset [18]. Furthermore, stressful conditions after the disaster increase sleep disturbance [19], which may also be associated with neck pain; however, the association between sleep disturbance and neck pain after natural disasters has not been reported. Clarifying the association between sleep disturbance and neck pain is important to develop strategies for the treatment of neck pain among people after natural disasters, which is also useful for the general population.…”