- Original Article
- Published:
Seismic intensity and mental stress after the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake
Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine volume 6, pages 165–169 (2001)
Abstract
Objective
For 1,361 victims of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, to evaluate the usefulness of seismic intensity information for mental health activities, we examined the quantitative relationship between experienced seismic intensity and earthquake-related life events or mental health.
Methods
Questionnaires were administered concerning seismic intensity, life events and mental health to the victims.
Results
The incidence of serious life events, such as death of a close family member and mental disorders were higher in areas of high seismic intensity than in low-intensity areas. Victims who experienced intensity 7 (Japan Meteorological Agency) scored 11 or more on the Modified Mercalli (MM) scale, perceived more depressive symptoms [odds ratio (OR) 2.11, 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.49–2.98)] and lower mental health status (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.34–2.61) than those who suffered intensity 4 or less, who scored 7 or less on MM scale after controlling for various sociodemographic factors.
Conclusions
Higher seismic intensity was associated with each severe life event and ill mental health among earthquake victims.
References
The Japan Meteorological Agency. Earthquake and seismic intensity, Gyousei, Tokyo, 1996 (in Japanese).
Janney JG, Masuda M, Holmes T. Impact of natural catastrophe on life events. J. Human Stress 1977; June: 22–34.
Bland SH, O'leary ES, Farinaro E, et al. Social network disturbances and psychological distress following earthquake evacuation. J. Nerv. Ment. Dis. 1997; 185: 188–194.
Maj M, Starace F, Crepet P, et al. Prevalence of psychiatric disorders among subjects exposed to a natural disaster. Act. Psych. Scand 1989; 79: 544–549.
Pynoos RS, Goenjian A, Tashjian M, et al. Post-traumatic stress reactions in children after the 1988 Armenian earthquake. Br. J. Psych. 1993; 163: 239–247.
Goenjian AK, Najarian LM, Pynoos RS, et al. Postraumatic stress reactions after single and double trauma. Acta Psychiatr. Scand. 1994; 90: 214–221.
Lima BR, Chavez H, Samaniego N, et al. Disaster severity and emotional disturbance: implications for primary mental health care in developing countries. Acta Psychiatr. Scand. 1989; 79: 74–82.
Papadatos Y, Nicou K, Potamianos G. Evaluation of psychiatric morbidity following an earthquake. Int. J. Soc. Psychiatr. 1990; 36: 131–136.
Wood J, Bootzin RR, Rosenhan D, et al. Effects of the 1989 San Francisco earthquake on frequency and content of nightmares. J. Abnorm. Psychol. 1992; 101: 219–224.
Feedy JR, Saladin ME, Kilpatrick DG, et al. Understanding acute psycholgical distress following natural disaster. J. Trauma Stress 1994; 7(2): 257–273.
Goenjian AK, Najarian LM, Pynoos RS, et al. Posttraumatic stress disorder in elderly and younger adults after the 1988 earthquake in Armenia. Am. J. Psychiatry 1994; 15(6): 895–901.
Webster RA, McDonald R, Lewin TJ, et al. Effects of a natural disaster on immigrants and host population. J. Nerv. Med. Dis. 1995; 183(6): 390–397.
Goenjian AK, Pynoos RS, Steinberg AM, et al. Psychiatric comorbidity in children after the 1988 earthquake in Armenia. J. Am. Acad. Chil. Adoles. Psychiatry 1995; 34(9): 1174–1184.
Nunn KP, Lewin TJ, Walton JM, et al. The construction and characteristics of an instrument to measure personal hopefulness. Psychol. Med. 1996; 26: 531–545.
Sharan P, Chaudhary G, Kavathekar SA, et al. Preliminary reports of psychiatric disorders in survivors of a severe earthquake. Am. J. Psychiatry 1996; 153(4): 556–558.
Carr VJ, Levin TJ, Carter GL, et al. Patterns of service utilisation following the 1989 Newcastle earthquake: findings from Phase 1 of the Quake impact study. Aust. J. Pub. Health 1992; 16: 360–369.
Carr VJ, Levin TJ, Webster RA, et al. A synthesis of the findings from the Quake impact study: a two-year investigation of the psychosocial sequelae of the 1989 Newcastle earthquake. Social Psychiatry Psychiatr. Epidemiol. 1997; 32: 123–136.
Carr VJ, Levin TJ, Webster RA, et al. Psychosocial sequelae of the 1989 Newcastle earthquake: II. Exposure and morbidity profiles during the first 2 years post-disaster. Psychol. Med. 1997; 27: 167–178.
Nelen-Hoeksema S, Morrow J. A prospective study depression and posttraumatic stress symptoms after a natural disaster: the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. J. Pers. Soc. Psychol. 1991; 61: 115–121.
Cardena E, Spiegel D. Dissociative reactions to the San Francisco Bay Area earthquake of 1989. Am. J. Psychiatry 1993; 150: 474–478.
Goenjian A. A mental health relief programme in Armenia after the 1988 earthquake. Br. J. Psychol. 1993; 163: 230–239.
Goenjian AK, Karayan I, Pynoos RS, et al. Outcome of psychotherapy among early adolescents after trauma. Am. J. Psychiatry 1997; 154(4): 536–542.
SPSS, Inc. SPSSx User's guide. Chicago: SPSS, 2nd ed, 1986.
Raphael B. When disaster strikes: How individuals and communities cope with catastrophe. Basic Books, Inc., Publishers, New York, 1986.
Quick reference to the diagnostic criteria from DSM-IV, American Psychiatric Association. Washington D.C. 1994.
De La Fuente R. The mental health consequences of the 1985 earthquakes in Mexico. Int. J. Ment. Health 1990; 19: 21–29.
Singh B, Raphael B. Postdisaster morbidity of the bereaved: A possible role for preventive psychiatry. J. Nerv. Ment. Dis. 1981; 164: 203–212.
Kawakami N, Koizumi A. Validity of self-rating depression scale in industry. J. Occup. Med. 1986; 28: 360–361 (in Japanese).
Ezoe S, Morimoto K. Behavioral lifestyle and mental health status of Japanese factory workers. Prev. Med. 1994; 23: 98–105.
Kenardy JA, Webster RA, Lewin TJ, et al. Stress debriefing and pattern of recovery following a natural disaster. J. Traum. Stress 1996; 9: 37–49.
Armstrong K, Zatzick D, Metzler T, et al. Debriefing of American Red Cross personnel: pilot study on participants' evaluations and case examples from the 1944 Los Angeles earthquake relief operation. Soc Work in Health Care 1998; 27: 33–50.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Maruyama, S., Kwon, YS. & Morimoto, K. Seismic intensity and mental stress after the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. Environ Health Prev Med 6, 165–169 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02897965
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02897965