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In Japan, outcome measures for maternal and child health measures such as maternal, perinatal, and infant mortality have consistently shown a trend toward improvement. On the other hand, the problems of the declining birth rate, child abuse, and domestic violence have become evident since the 1990s. In terms of Japan's maternal and child health, it is necessary to take measures to preserve mental health of mothers and children, and also to respond to family issues such as abuse and violence. The services needed such as comprehensive support centers for families with children and new postpartum care programs have been established. It is necessary to further improve the competence of doctors, public health nurses, and midwives working in the maternal and child health field and to promptly construct a cooperation system in the community. J. Med. Invest. 69 : 159-164, August, 2022.

This study examined older adults’ subjective wellbeing and related factors in the coastal area of Soma City nine and a half years after the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE). Data were collected from 65- to 84-year-old residents and 1297 participants via a questionnaire from October to November 2020. The participants were divided into two groups: housing complexes and non-housing complexes. The dependent variable was subjective wellbeing assessed via Lawton’s Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale (PGCMS). Using multivariate regression analysis, the factors most strongly related to a low PGCMS score for both groups were poor health conditions, difficulties resting while asleep, poor financial wellbeing, inability to chew certain foods, and fear of solitary death. The GEJE experience was further distinguished in the housing complex group by the loss of an important non-family individual; for the other group, important factors were female gender, junior high school education level or lower, limited social networks, and deterioration of a family member’s health. Older adults’ subjective wellbeing in Soma City was low after nine and a half years following the GEJE. For disaster victims and their families in both groups, it is crucial to implement measures such as long-term, continuous physical and mental health support.

Tobacco exposure during pregnancy is associated with several adverse outcomes in infants. We investigated the association between tobacco exposure during pregnancy (both active and second-hand) and various infections in infants up to 1 year.This prospective cohort study used a fixed dataset (jecs-an-20180131) from the Japan Environment and Children's Study of registered births in Japan during 2011-2014 that included 104,065 fetal records from enrolled pregnant women. Based on the participants' responses to the questionnaire on smoking status, mothers were first divided into "Never smoked," "Quit smoking," and "Current smoker" groups and then into "No second-hand smoking (SHS)" and "SHS" groups. Infectious diseases included central nervous system infection, otitis media (OM), upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI), gastroenteritis (GI), and urinary tract infection. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using logistic regression analysis and adjusted for maternal, socioeconomic, and postnatal confounding factors.Among the 73,205 newborns enrolled, multivariable analysis revealed that the aOR (95% CI) of LRTI and GI was 1.20 (1.07-1.33) and 1.18 (1.04-1.35), respectively, for the "Current smoker with/without SHS" group compared with the "Never smoked without SHS" group. "Quit smoking without SHS" was not associated with the risk of LRTI. SHS was associated with an increased risk of OM, URTI, LRTI, and GI, especially with LRTI and GI.Exposure to tobacco smoke during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of OM, URTI, LRTI, and GI in infants during their first year of life.

ObjectiveNurses working rotating shifts often suffer from insomnia or similar disorders because exposure to room lighting at night inhibits melatonin secretion, resulting in a disturbed circadian rhythm. This study investigated whether dark room lighting would be preferable to brighter rooms in terms of (1) fatigue and sleepiness while working, (2) quality of sleep and (3) non-interference with work performance among nurses.MethodsThis study used a non-randomised open-label trial between night shifts using dark (110 lx) and bright (410 lx) room lighting on the desk surface. A total of 20 nurses were enrolled in the trial from November 2015 to February 2016 at a hospital in Japan. All participants worked first with dark room lighting and then with bright room lighting. The participants completed a self-administered questionnaire at enrolment, which was collected this at the end of the intervention.ResultsFatigue and sleepiness were significantly higher in dark room lighting than in bright room conditions (pConclusionDark room lighting did not ameliorate fatigue and sleepiness during night shifts. Additionally, there was no evidence of improvement in sleep quality among nurses. These findings are important, however, in terms of managing hospital risk.

The 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and consequent Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident caused a large-scale evacuation, generating various health issues. Although residents gradually returned, their independence of daily living and associated factors remain unknown. This study examines the hypothesis that physical and mental status are associated with the instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) of older returnees (65 years and above) after the disaster. Older returnees to Kawauchi Village, Fukushima Prefecture, located 20–30 km southwest of the power plants, were recruited. IADL was assessed using the Japan Science and Technology Agency Index of Competence, physical function via the 30-s chair stand test, and mental health via the Japanese version of the World Health Organization Five Well-Being Index. To examine the association of IADL and possible factors, a t-test or Pearson’s product-moment correlation coefficient was used, stratified by sex. The data of 29 participants (75.5 ± 7.4 years, 19 female) were analyzed. Physical function was associated with IADL in females. Mental health was associated with IADL in males and females. Taking measures to strengthen physical function in females, as well as to improve mental health in both sexes, for enhancing IADL ability could be beneficial.

Background Polypharmacy is a serious concern among older adults and is frequently related to adverse outcomes, including health problems, reduced quality of life, and increased medical expenses. Although personality traits are associated with health behaviors and diseases, the effect of polypharmacy on personality traits is unclear. Therefore, we examined the association of personality traits with polypharmacy among community-dwelling older adults. Methods This cross-sectional study analysed data on 836 community-dwelling older adults aged 69–71 years who participated in the Japanese longitudinal cohort study of Septuagenarians, Octogenarians, and Nonagenarians Investigation with Centenarians. Polypharmacy was defined as the intake of ≥ 5 medications concurrently. Personality traits were assessed using the Japanese version of the NEO-Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI). A five-factor model of personality traits, including “neuroticism,” “extraversion,” “openness,” “agreeableness,” and “conscientiousness,” was measured by the NEO-FFI. Results The average number of medications was about 3 in both men and women. Among the participants, polypharmacy was observed in 23.9% of men and 28.0% of women. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that neuroticism (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] per 1 point increase = 1.078, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.015–1.144) in men and extraversion (aOR = 0.932, 95% CI = 0.884–0.983) in women were associated with polypharmacy. Conclusions Higher neuroticism in men and lower extraversion in women were associated with polypharmacy. This study suggests that personality traits may be involved in the process leading to the development of polypharmacy. Information on individual personality traits may help medical professionals in decision-making regarding medication management for lifestyle-related diseases.

We examined the differences in the posttraumatic growth (PTG) free descriptions from clusters of Fukushima residents (evacuation and non-evacuation zones) who experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake, and the relationship between “recovery from radiation anxiety” and the PTG-free description classification in these regions. A mail survey was conducted in August 2016 among Fukushima residents aged 20–79 years for free descriptions of their PTG. Participants were then divided into the “no anxiety,” “recovered from anxiety,” and “unrecovered from anxiety” groups based on their “recovery from radiation anxiety.” Data from 786 responses were analyzed. The PTG-free descriptions were classified into eight categories. Among those who lived in the evacuation zone versus those in the non-evacuation zone, “relating to others” (non-evacuation zone: 11.9% vs. evacuation zone: 18.4%) and “appreciation of life” (non-evacuation zone: 2.7% vs. evacuation zone: 9.8%) were significantly higher, and “increased awareness of disaster prevention” (non-evacuation zone: 20.4% vs. evacuation zone: 8.0%) was significantly lower. In the evacuation zone, “renewed recognition of nuclear issues” was significantly lower than the expected value in the no anxiety group (3.1%) and significantly higher than the expected value in the recovered group (22.9%). Further studies are needed to build support measures and potentially aid in preparing for future disasters.

After the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in 2011, caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake, some evacuees had no one to consult despite many local care providers offering assistance. This study identified the characteristics of individuals who did not receive consultations and the relevant determinants, and proposed the available measures to address this issue. Altogether, 32,699 participants aged 16 years or older and residing in the disaster area at Fukushima were surveyed. Those with no one to consult showed a significantly higher prevalence of psychological distress (16.2%, p &lt, 0.001) and drinking problems (21.5%, p &lt, 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that these behaviors were associated with the middle age group (i.e., 40–64 years old) (odds ratio [OR]: 1.30, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16–1.46), men (OR = 2.46, 95% CI, 2.27–2.66), bad financial circumstances (OR = 2.11, 95% CI, 1.96–2.27), and living alone (OR = 1.53, 95% CI, 1.39–1.68). This research verifies that people with such characteristics were more likely to be isolated and vulnerable to psychiatric problems, such as depression. We suggest that it is integral for local care providers to recognize those who have no one to consult and provide targeted support.

Background This study aimed to examine the effects of the consumption frequency of 10 food groups on activities of daily living (ADL) in elderly Japanese women. Methods This was a four-year longitudinal cohort study conducted in Itabashi Ward, Tokyo. Participants were 1,111 community-dwelling elderly women aged 75 to 85 years, without baseline ADL disability or missing values. The main outcome measures were the relationship between the baseline consumption frequency of 10 food groups and future incidence of ADL disability. The relationship between baseline consumption frequency of 10 food groups and change in ADL status was analyzed through logistic regression analyses. Results The incidence rate of ADL disability was 7.6%. The trend tests show that less-frequent consumption of soy products, colored vegetables, and fats/oils leads to a significantly higher odds ratio of ADL disability incidence whether adjusted or not (p

This study explored the associations between personality traits and cognitive failure (including minor lapses and prospective and retrospective memory failure) among middle-aged and older adults living in Japan. The participants were 373 adults, aged 40–84 (167 men and 206 women). The 15-item Japanese version of the Short Inventory of Minor Lapses was used to evaluate minor lapses, and the 16-item Japanese version of the Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire was used to assess prospective and retrospective memory failure. The participants’ variables evaluated for their association with cognitive failure were gender, age, education, paid work, social network, chronic disease, sleep quality, and the Big Five personality traits (i.e., neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness). Multivariable regression analyses demonstrated that sleep quality (β = −0.232), neuroticism (β = 0.163), and conscientiousness (β = −0.295) were related to minor lapses; age (β = 0.152), sleep quality (β = −0.168), and conscientiousness (β = −0.290) were associated with prospective memory failure; and age (β = 0.268), sleep quality (β = −0.146), and conscientiousness (β = −0.221) were associated with retrospective memory failure. These findings may facilitate the development of efficient strategies for the prevention of cognitive dysfunction and its adverse consequences for personal health.

Highlights • Health literacy was lower in Fukushima Prefecture residents after the radiation accident. • Educational background in participants may be associated with low health literacy. • Health literacy wasn’t associated with checkup and radiation survey participation. • Low radiation anxiety was positively associated with participation in checkup. • A longitudinal study is needed to clarify if anxiety affects checkup participation., The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident caused radioactive contamination of the surrounding area. In addition to annual health checkups, a survey of the effects of low-dose radiation exposure on health among Fukushima Prefecture residents after the accident has been conducted. Despite health literacy (HL) being recognized as essential to health, its association with participation in these checkups and the survey remains unknown. We aimed to describe the HL status of the Fukushima Prefecture residents and to verify the hypothesis that HL is associated with participation in both checkup and survey. In a cross-sectional study, a questionnaire was sent to 2000 randomly sampled Fukushima Prefecture residents; data from 770 individuals were analyzed. Communicative and critical HL were measured using a 5-point scale. Factors associated with participation were examined using logistic regression. The survey’s valid response rate was 38.5%. The average HL score was 3.11 ± 0.81. HL was not associated with checkup or survey participation. Checkup participation was negatively associated with radiation anxiety (odds ratio 0.93, 95% confidence interval 0.86–0.99, p = 0.03). The HL of Fukushima Prefecture residents after the accident was relatively lower than that of the Japanese general population, which may be attributed to difference in educational background. The complexities involved in understanding the effects of radiation on the health of residents could explain why no association between HL and participation in a health checkup and survey was observed. Future studies with a longitudinal design should clarify causality between anxiety and checkup participation.

The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident in 2011 produced over 100000 evacuees. In order to deal with an increased need of mental health care, brief, transdiagnostic Telephonic Interventions (TI) have been provided for those at risk of different mental health problems identified based on results of the Mental Health and Lifestyle Survey (MHLS). This study aimed to examine usefulness of TI with focusing on evacuees’ subjective estimation assessed in individual follow-up interviews. The sample comprised 484 persons who had been evacuated from 13 municipalities in Fukushima Prefecture to 8 safer regions in and out of Fukushima. We conducted semi-structured interviews for participants receiving TI (intervention group) and those not receiving TI despite being identified as high risk (non-intervention group). The intervention group was older, had a higher proportion of self-reported mental illness, and higher unemployment compared with the non-intervention group. The satisfaction proportion of those who underwent TI was as high as 74.6%. Satisfaction was significantly associated with advance knowledge of TI availability (OR = 3.00, 95% CI: 1.59‐5.64), and advice on health-related practices (OR = 2.15, 95% CI: 1.12‐4.13). Thus, TI is considered to be feasible and useful for public health management practices in major disasters.

The 2011 nuclear disaster in Fukushima was not only a health disaster, but also an information disaster. Although media can promote health communication following disasters, studies have revealed associations between media information and negative psychological reactions. To clarify the relationship between media utilization and current health anxiety due to radiation exposure, a cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted in Fukushima. We selected 2000 subjects from evacuation (i.e., 500) and non-evacuation (i.e., 1500) areas by two-stage stratified random sampling. As the independent variable, participants were asked about current health anxiety due to radiation exposure at the time of answering the questionnaire. For utilization of media about radiation exposure, local media, national media, Internet media, public broadcasts, and public relations information from local government were set as the dependent variables. Questionnaire data were analyzed by evacuation type (i.e., forced/voluntary). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, the use of public relations information was significantly associated with lower anxiety for the forced evacuees (odds ratio: 0.72, 95% confidence interval: 0.56&ndash, 0.93). Our findings highlight the importance of public relations information from local government in terms of it being associated with lower current health anxiety, and this could potentially aid in preparing for future disasters

Older adults’ ever-improving health and changing lifestyles necessitate the development of a scale that can better measure their competence at a higher level. We developed the Japan Science and Technology Agency Index of Competence (JST-IC) via item analysis and assessed its psychometric properties. Participants were 1306 community-dwelling older adults (623 men and 683 women, 74.0 ± 2.8 years old) who completed the 54-item draft JST-IC to determine their level of independence. Three procedures (including item selection, factor analyses, and reliability and validity analyses) were conducted to finalize the JST-IC and evaluate its psychometric properties. The item selection resulted in exclusion of 26 items for the following reasons: (a) 15 because of very high ratios (80% or more) of responders who answered “yes”, (b) one because of gender differences (phi coefficient = 0.34), (c) five because of their weak association with the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence (TMIG-IC) (Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.30 or smaller), and (d) five because of redundancy of meaning with other items. Through factor analyses, we selected 16 items with a four-factor solution for the final version. JST-IC score exhibited a near-normal distribution and significant gender and age differences, and had moderate correlations with size of social network and level of subjective well-being and strong correlations with TMIG-IC score, physical fitness, and health literacy. The JST-IC is useful for assessing competence at a higher level in community-dwelling older adults.

We aimed to (1) describe the subjective well-being (SWB) of older residents in Fukushima Prefecture seven years and seven months after the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE) and examine the effect of relocation to the restoration public housing (RPH) on SWB, social capital, and health indicators, and (2) investigate the association between social capital and SWB. Questionnaires were administered to collect data of both RPH and non-RPH residents (&ge, 65 years). Respondents&rsquo, SWB was collected via the Japanese version of the World Health Organization Five Well-Being Index. Additionally, residents&rsquo, social capital (trust, reciprocity, and participation), physical activity level, social network, functional health, history of chronic disease, and demographic data were collected. We analyzed 101 responses (valid response rate: approximately 34%) from RPH and 158 (53%) from non-RPH residents. SWB was lower in RPH compared to non-RPH residents but not statistically significant. Older RPH residents may demonstrate lower social capital and health indicators after the GEJE. Mistrust was found to be positively associated with low SWB in RPH residents. Future studies should examine the effectiveness of support for enhancing the trust of older RPH residents regarding, for example, the involvement of scientists&mdash, including medical professionals&mdash, in risk communications in promoting SWB.

The Fukushima Medical University conducted a mental health care program for evacuees after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident. However, the mental health status of non-respondents has not been considered for surveys using questionnaires. Therefore, the aim of this study was to clarify the characteristics of non-respondents and respondents. The target population of the survey (FY2011-2013) is people living in the nationally designated evacuation zone of Fukushima prefecture. Among these, the participants were 967 people (20 years or older). We examined factors that affected the difference between the groups of participants (i.e., non-respondents and respondents) using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Employment was higher in non-respondents (p=0.022) and they were also more socially isolated (p=0.047) when compared to respondents; non-respondents had a higher proportional risk of psychological distress compared to respondents (p

Objective This study examined (1) the current status of posttraumatic growth (PTG) and (2) the relationship between recovery from radiation anxiety and PTG among community dwellers five years after the nuclear disaster in Fukushima. Design This was a cross-sectional study with 796 residents of Fukushima Prefecture (367 men and 429 women). A questionnaire survey assessed PTG with one question (“Have you gained anything through the disaster experience?” [yes/no]), and current and past radiation anxiety on a 5-point Likert-type scale. These two anxiety measures were combined to generate a new item “recovery from radiation anxiety” with three values (“no anxiety,” “recovered,” and “unrecovered”). Results Approximately half of participants experienced PTG (55.4%). Women were more likely to experience PTG than men. Multiple logistic regression showed that individuals who “recovered” from radiation anxiety were more likely to experience PTG (odds ratio (OR) = 1.99, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.34–2.85), and that higher level of education (OR = 2.12, 95% CI: 1.28–3.49 for secondary education; OR = 3.95, 95% CI: 2.26–6.88 for higher education) and health literacy (OR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.09–1.63 for one point increase) were also associated with the experience of PTG.Conclusion: Our findings indicate that during the period of recovery from radiation anxiety, a positive psychological adjustment may occur and PTG might emerge as a result; our findings may be practically used to support sufferers of traumatic events in their recovery.

Following the March 2011 accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, many residents of Fukushima have faced anxieties about the health impacts of radiation exposure. Considering that source of information may influence resident anxiety, this study aimed to elucidate the correlation between the two. In addition, a health literacy query was included to examine a possible relationship between anxiety and health literacy skills. A mail survey was conducted in August 2016 among 2000 residents of Fukushima Prefecture aged 20 to 79 years. Survey items included questions about current health anxieties caused by radiation, trusted sources of information about radiation, and media used to obtain information on radiation. The survey valid response rate was 43.4%. Results of multiple linear regression analysis revealed that anxiety was significantly higher for the groups indicating "trust in citizen groups" and "use of internet sites." Anxiety was significantly lower for the groups indicating "trust in government ministries," "trust in local government," and "use of local broadcast television." Also anxiety was significantly lower for groups with higher health literacy. It was found that the significant relationship to anxiety varies depending on the sources of trust and media used. There is a possibility that this was caused by the difference between the contents of each information and media reports. In preparation for any future nuclear accident, government may consider action to improve the media literacy of residents. In addition, improving health literacy of both the recipient and the sender of information can improve access to information and thereby safeguard the health and well-being of the public.

We investigated the psychometric properties of the simplified Japanese version of the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS‐SJ) using baseline data from the Fukushima Health Management Survey. Data from 22 878 men and 27 669 women aged 16 years and older were analysed (M age = 52.9 ± 18.6). Participants lived in the Fukushima evacuation zone and experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake. The AIS‐SJ was used to assess participants’ insomnia symptoms, and its validity was examined by administering the Kessler 6‐item Psychological Distress Scale (K6) and assessing education, self‐rated health and disaster‐related experiences. A confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the two‐factor model was a better fit than the one‐factor model. The AIS‐SJ and its subscales had acceptable reliability (Cronbach's alpha, 0.81). Test of measurement invariance confirmed strict invariance across groups for the participants’ characteristics of gender and mental illness history, but not for participants’ age. AIS‐SJ scores exhibited a near‐normal distribution (skewness, 0.45; kurtosis, −0.89). There were significant age differences only among women, and gender differences in AIS‐SJ scores with small effect sizes. The AIS‐SJ scores had weak‐to‐moderate correlations with mental illness history, bereavement, experiencing the tsunami, experiencing the nuclear power plant incident, housing damage and losing one's job (polyserial correlations, 0.36, 0.17, 0.13, 0.18, 0.13, and 0.15, respectively), and strong correlations with self‐rated health (polyserial correlation, 0.51), psychological distress (r s, 0.60) and post‐traumatic stress disorder (r s, 0.60). The AIS‐SJ is a useful instrument for assessing community dwellers’ insomnia symptoms.

Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the risk factors for incident functional disability among long-term evacuees of Iitate village after Great East Japan Earthquake and nuclear disaster (GEJE). We also investigated the effectiveness of exercise classes as an intervention measure in this situation. Methods: 1159 subjects (75.2 &plusmn, 5.8 years, 57.5% female) were included at baseline, and followed-up for four years. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) of incident functional disability according to the presence of risk factors evaluated by the municipality&rsquo, s self-assessment Basic Checklist (BCL). Evacuees from Iitate who participated in the exercise classes and those who did not were matched using the propensity scores, which were then used to obtain the HR of incident functional disability. Results: New functional disability occurred in 280 (24.2%) participants during the follow-up. Participants who scored negative for the &ldquo, Physical function&rdquo, domain in the BCL had a HR of 2.04 (95% CI: 1.54&ndash, 2.69) for incident functional disability when compared to those who scored positive for this domain. Similarly, the HR for &ldquo, Cognitive function&rdquo, was 1.37 (CI: 1.06&ndash, 1.77), and 1.60 (CI: 1.24&ndash, 2.08) for &ldquo, Depression&rdquo, Using a Cox proportional hazard regression model, both the group with low-participation in the exercise program and the group with high-participation in the exercise program had a significantly lower rate of incident functional disability compared to those who did not participate at all (HR = 0.27, CI: 0.16&ndash, 0.46, HR = 0.30, CI: 0.12&ndash, 0.74, respectively). Conclusions: Pre-disaster BCL domains were useful to identify individuals at risk of functional disability after a major socio-technical disaster. Therefore, this instrument can be used to identify at-risk older adults who would benefit from early exercise programs to prevent incident functional disability.

AIM: Prevention of depressive symptoms is a very essential issue with regard to the promotion of healthy lifestyles in older people. To date, few studies have examined the relationship between fluctuations in physical activity and depression among older individuals. We thus conducted a longitudinal survey of older adults to examine the effect of long-term fluctuating physical activity on the incidence of depressive symptoms. METHODS: A 3-year prospective cohort study was performed in a community-based environment. A total of 680 (291 men and 389 women) individuals aged 65 years and over at the baseline assessment participated. The 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) was used to assess depressive symptoms, with scores of ≥6 indicative of depression. Participants were categorized into the following four groups based on change in physical activity status between 2002 and 2003: sedentary, cessation, initiation, and maintenance. RESULTS: The incidence of depressive symptoms was 16.9% (16.8% in men and 17.0% in women) at 3-year follow up (in 2006). Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that physical activity maintenance [odds ratio (OR) = 0.50, 95% Confidence Interval (CI):0.30-0.83] only reduced the incidence of depressive symptoms at 3-year follow up after adjusting for confounding variables. CONCLUSIONS: Continuous physical activity may be a valuable and simple way to prevent depressive symptoms in community-dwelling older people. Therefore, it is necessary to implement interventions that teach older adults how to integrate physical activity into their daily lives. Language: en

Purpose: Although recent studies have confirmed a relationship solely between personality traits and mortality, combinations of personality have been not fully investigated. This study explored whether a combination of personality traits was related to all-cause mortality among the middle-aged and elderly.

The disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant after the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011, might have affected the mental health status of children. To assess the mental health status, we measured the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) in 15 274 children (aged 4-15 years). The proportions of those who scored above the cutoff (≥16) of SDQ, reflecting the clinical range of the mental health status, were 25.0% (aged 4-6 years), 22.0% (aged 7-12 years, and 16.3% (aged 13-15 years), which were higher than that in the usual state (9.5%). We also explored the possibility that the distribution on the Fukushima prefectural map of the proportions of those who scored above the cutoff (≥16) of SDQ might correspond with the environmental radiation levels, but there was no significant correlation.

Following the accident at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant in March 2011, both experts and the national government provided insufficient information on radiation, leading to widespread distrust in the community. This study aimed at clarifying the association between anxiety about radiation and health literacy among residents in evacuation and non-evacuation areas in Fukushima. A questionnaire survey was sent to randomly sampled residents between August and October 2016, and data from 777 responses (38.9% valid response) were analyzed. The questionnaire assessed current radiation anxiety and discrimination and prejudice based on radiation exposure through seven items and communicative and critical health literacy through five items. Multiple regression analysis of the association between radiation anxiety and health literacy showed that the level of health literacy was significantly negatively associated with radiation anxiety in the evacuation areas (marginally in the non-evacuation areas) and marginally negatively associated with discrimination and prejudice in the evacuation areas but not in the non-evacuation areas. Therefore, improving health literacy could alleviate radiation anxiety.