Psychological Recovery in the Elderly After the Niigata-Chuetsu Earthquake
Author Information
Author(s): Toyabe Shin-ichi, Shioiri Toshiki, Kuwabara Hideki, Endoh Taroh, Tanabe Naohito, Someya Toshiyuki, Akazawa Kouhei
Primary Institution: Niigata University Medical and Dental Hospital
Hypothesis
The elderly are at higher risk for psychological distress after a disaster compared to younger individuals.
Conclusion
Elderly individuals showed impaired psychological recovery even five months after the earthquake, particularly in coping with daily problems.
Supporting Evidence
- GHQ-12 scores were significantly elevated at the most stressful time after the earthquake.
- Scores remained high even five months post-earthquake.
- Age was found to significantly affect GHQ-12 scores.
Takeaway
After a big earthquake, older people had a harder time feeling better compared to younger people, even months later.
Methodology
Psychological distress was measured using the GHQ-12 among 2,083 subjects living in temporary housing five months after the earthquake.
Potential Biases
Self-reported data may be influenced by current psychological states affecting recollections of pre-earthquake conditions.
Limitations
The study only included subjects living in temporary housing, and pre-earthquake scores were based on recollections, which may not be accurate.
Participant Demographics
The sample included 54.6% males and 44.5% females, with a significant portion being elderly.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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