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Seismic intensity and mental stress after the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake

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Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine Aims and scope

Abstract

Objective

For 1,361 victims of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, to evaluate the usefulness of seismic intensity information for mental health activities, we examined the quantitative relationship between experienced seismic intensity and earthquake-related life events or mental health.

Methods

Questionnaires were administered concerning seismic intensity, life events and mental health to the victims.

Results

The incidence of serious life events, such as death of a close family member and mental disorders were higher in areas of high seismic intensity than in low-intensity areas. Victims who experienced intensity 7 (Japan Meteorological Agency) scored 11 or more on the Modified Mercalli (MM) scale, perceived more depressive symptoms [odds ratio (OR) 2.11, 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.49–2.98)] and lower mental health status (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.34–2.61) than those who suffered intensity 4 or less, who scored 7 or less on MM scale after controlling for various sociodemographic factors.

Conclusions

Higher seismic intensity was associated with each severe life event and ill mental health among earthquake victims.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Sciences, Faculty of Literature, Kobe Shinwa Women's University, Hyogo

    Soichiro Maruyama

  2. Department of Social and Environmental Medicine FI, Course of Social Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamadaoka, 565-0871, Suita, Osaka, Japan

    Soichiro Maruyama, Young-Sook Kwon & Kanehisa Morimoto

Authors
  1. Soichiro Maruyama
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  2. Young-Sook Kwon
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  3. Kanehisa Morimoto
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Correspondence to Kanehisa Morimoto.

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Maruyama, S., Kwon, YS. & Morimoto, K. Seismic intensity and mental stress after the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. Environ Health Prev Med 6, 165–169 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02897965

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02897965

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