State and cause of psychological changes of victims sufferedfrom the Great East Japan Earthquake during 7-year after the occurrence
Akiko Sakai, MS,RN
Chie Isomi,MS RN
Satomi Shigeta,MS,RN
Takako Shimizu,MS.RN

University of Fukui, Japan
University of Fukui, Japan
University of Fukui, Japan
University of Fukui, Japan

Email:sakaiaki@u-fukui.ac.jp

Background and Purpose of Study
BackgroundPurpose of Study

The Great East Japan Earthquake was a magnitude 9.0 undersea megathrust earthquake which was occurred off the coast ofJapan at 14:46 on Friday, March 11th, 2011. The earthquake triggered powerful tsunami waves that reached up to 40.5 metres (133 ft).
During the 7-year after the occurrence, the government has been proceeding to construct tide embankments, to rise the foundation of
the areas and to build housings for the victims. On other hand, from social perspectives, victims have been constructing newcommunities and beginning their new lives, thought psychological recovery will require more time than it will for infracturereconstruction.

This study aims to clarify the state and causes ofpsychological changes of victims suffered from theGreat East Japan Earthquake during 7-year after
the occurrence.

Methods
Data Analysis：content analysis method

Participants of this study:

The victims from the earthquake (aged from 60 to 80), who lives in 1. The typical tendencies were obtained byanalysing the characteristics of theIwate and Miyagi prefectures. The number of participants were as
participants’ psychological changes.
follows; 1st year - 20 participants (5 males and 5 females), 4th year
2. The factors affecting the participants’– 10 participants (6 males and 4 females), 7th year – 10
psychological changes were coded andparticipants (5 males and 5 females)
categorized into some similar factors as
Data Collection: Semi-structured interview
subcategories with abstract titles.
The participants were asked to draw the line which shows the state
3. Carefully analysing the relationshipof mental changes from the time of disaster till each point of thebetween the line and factor ofexamination (1st , 4th , 7th year). They were also asked to talk about
psychological changes.
their experiences as a victim of the disaster and the inferred factors
causing the changes of mental state. The interview tookapproximately an hour and it was recorded upon their consent.

Ethical consideration:
The research methods were approved by the Ethical Review Committee ofDepartment of Medical Sciences, the University of Fukui in 2018
1. Protecting the human right of volunteers
1) Careful consideration for the circumstance of the experiment and forthe participants’ privacy.
2) Keep participants’ personal information anonymous..
3) Restrict data use for other purposes
2. Informed consent
1) Explanation of study purposes, methods and ethical considerations.
2) Freedom to refuse or decline study participation after the agreementwith this study; there is no disadvantages for dropout from the study.

Results
victims’ mental state line
4th year

1st year

7th yearFig １. victims’ mental state line (1st year)
Combination of rising and dropping lines
were found in the result. Although theemergence and level of stress werediversified, most of the line reachedhigher level. And no one reached thebase line showing the stability before thedisaster.

Fig3. victims’ mental state line (4th year)
No one shows the increing stress levelbut feels stable. One participant
reached the base line just after a year,however, the level increased again in
half a year.

Fig 4. victims’ mental state line (7th year)
The clear distinction between
participants with higher and lower
stress levels. Participants with higher
stress levels experienced the loss of
their families. The lines of the otherparticipants tend to decrease to thebase line of stability between 2nd year
and 5th year.

The factors affecting victims’ mental state
Category

7th year

4th year

1st year
Frequency（％）

Frequency

Category（％）

Decision making and regret 36 (26.3)
on housings

Category

Frequency（％）

Relaxation and giving up

33 (25.2)

Continued symptoms andmedication

22 (16.8)

Participant A.2 Psychological changes during 7-year (Individual) Fig

Fig.1 Tendency of psychological changes during 7-year (Overall)as

Parcitipant A:
Male, 93-year-old,living alone. His house weredestroyed due to Tsunami.
For the 1st year, he mentioned that his mental isstable as he experienced the War.
For the 3rd year, reflecting the past while
preparing for death in a physically unwellcondition.
For the 4th year, reflecting himself who refused
to take supplies because of self-esteem.

Existence of family andfriends supporting victims

62（25.1)

Hope and anxiety for
unpredictable future45（18.2）

Feeling of motivation andloss
Living in unfamiliar(temporal) situation

38（15.4）

Change of health status and 19 (13.9)
taking medication

Concern over reconstruction 21 (16.0)
and move, and affection forfamiliar places37（15.0）

Family and friends

19 (13.9)

Loss of desire for lives

19 (14.5)

Health condition changes
and supports from healthcare
Loss of familiar places andhousings

34（13.8）

Work and hobby

12 (8.8)

12 (9.2)

Without self-decision (anyreasons)

8 (5.8)Continued thoughts for thedisaster
Isolation in unfamiliar
community

11 (8.4)

Participant B:

Remembering the disaster8 (5.8)Inheritance and financial
problems

7 (5.3)

Female, 65-year-old. Her only son was died due
to Tsunami.

Relaxation and giving up

6 (4.6)Lack of information andvalidity16（6.5）15（6.1）

Anxiety and decision forfuture

35 (25.5)

1. The main factors in 7-year were 【Existence of family and friends 】 【housing circumstances】 【heath condition】 2. The factor
influencing psychological changes was ambivalently affected. For example, victims hope to come back to their home while
understanding it is impossible. 3. In the 7th year, the new factors such as 【less desire for live】【isolation in unfamiliar places】

Participant B

For the 1st year, she continued to wash his
clothes everyday (uncertainty).
For the 3rd year, she started telling a story of hislast time and looking back missing people. Forthe 4th year, she started remembering theconversation with her son and reflecting herself
in the past and present.

Conclusions
The result showed that victims who experienced severe disasters spontaneously begin to accept circumstances and “the loss experience” after facing “uncertainly”, “reinforcedisolation” and “exploring meanings”. This procedures let victims gain mental stability. From the traits from the psychological changes, it can be said that it is significant to intervene at
appropriate phase with appropriate care and construct psychological support system to promote victims to join a community, in order to foster them to be independent from supports.

Future Consideration

As stated in the investigation of the mental status changes, the most significant factors for victims are continuous cares at appropriate periods, supports for victims’ difficulties such as
This study was a part of a research project fund9ed byanxieties over livings and occupations, and mental care to help victims to separate from any supports in cooperation with regional communities.

JSPS Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) 2009-2018日

東日本大震災後の長期的な心理的回復過程について、研究を行っています。

現在行っている永平寺町福祉避難所に関する研究です。