Longitudinal associations of radiation risk perceptions and mental health among non-evacuee residents of Fukushima prefecture seven years after the nuclear power plant disaster.

ABSTRACT: We aimed to explore the effects of prolonged radiation risk perceptions on mental health after the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident occurred in 2011. We investigated the longitudinal associations of radiation risk perceptions five years after the accident with psychological distress and posttraumatic stress symptoms two years later among non-evacuee community residents of Fukushima prefecture. A two-wave questionnaire survey was administered for 4,900 randomly sampled residents in 49 municipalities of Fukushima prefecture excluding the evacuation area designated by the Japanese government. Radiation risk perceptions were assessed with a seven-item scale. Psychological distress and posttraumatic stress symptoms were measured by the K6 and the six-item abbreviated version of the Posttr

SUBMITTER: Fukasawa M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6909055 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature