Research on mental health and support measures for survivors of ongoing natural disasters

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K03212
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 10010:Social psychology-related
• Research Institution: Teikyo University
• Principal Investigator: Omori Tetsushi 帝京大学, 外国語学部, 准教授 (50720041)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 田宮 憲 帝京大学短期大学, その他部局等, 講師 (70388479)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 災害復興 / 精神健康 / 被災者支援

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study was to comprehensively examine the mental health status of disaster survivors of the 2000 Miyakejima eruption, their livelihood recovery status, and support measures, and to elucidate the problems in the recovery process of disaster survivors. The results of this study showed that 51.3% of the survivors were at high risk of mental health problems, and it was estimated that more than half of the survivors still had mental health problems 20 years after the disaster. Factors that inhibit the recovery of mental health of disaster survivors include problems in rebuilding their lives and lack of a sense of fulfillment in life.

Free Research Field

社会心理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の対象とする2000年三宅島噴火は、有害な火山ガスの放出が10年以上にわたって継続し、その被害は被災者の生活再建に多大な被害をもたらしている。このような災害の被害が長期間にわたって継続している中で生活再建を強いられている被災者の精神的問題について実証的アプローチから検証している知見は世界的に見ても僅かしかない。本研究での知見が東日本大震災や今後の被災者支援策に活かされることを期待する。