Longitudinal study of mental health of nurses affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25862101
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Fundamental nursing
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: TAKAHASHI Yoko 東北大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 助手 (20625016)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 自然災害 / 看護師 / メンタルヘルス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To develop a support program for nurses in affected areas after a disaster, we examined mental distress among nurses affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake about 30-33 months and after 41-45 months post-disaster, via self-administered questionnaires.
The results suggested that although the nurses’ overall mental health tended to improve over time, turnover occurred among those found to be at a high risk of PTSD and depression. Analysis of risk factors indicated that feeling guilty about the disaster was associated with impaired recovery from both PTSD and depression.

Free Research Field

精神看護