Psychological Consequences More Than Half a Century After the Nagasaki Atomic Bombing

Abstract

A radioactive disaster can affect people in both their physical and mental health. Previous research has suggested that people who experienced atomic bombing directly showed poor mental health. However, even residents in the areas not designated as an atomic bombing-afflicted area by the government reportedly have poor mental health. Further investigation is warranted to examine whether people who experienced the Nagasaki atomic bomb without direct physical exposure to radiation suffer worse mental health even after 50 years, and to identify risk factors, including social experiences related to the bombing. To examine the psychological consequences of the atomic bombing in the Nagasaki area, we have set the following aims of investigation: (1) whether the people with exposure experience in the non-designated area had fear of exposure, and to what extent and what sort; (2) whether they still remain in poorer mental health than the comparison group; and (3) what sort of demographic and social experiences are related to their poor mental health. This study included subjects who lived in the area nondesignated as the atomic bombing-afflicted area, with a comparison group who moved into the area after the war. Using the General Health Questionnaire 28 items (GHQ-28) as a primary indicator, we assessed the mental health status of the participants, along with knowledge of the nature and the effect of the atomic bomb and distressing and humiliating experiences related to the atomic bombing. The results of this study will be published elsewhere.