Cross-Sectional Data Within 1 Year of the Fukushima Meltdown: Effect-Size of Predictors for Depression

This cross-sectional study investigates effect sizes of depression predictors in a community close to the Fukushima, Japan nuclear reactor damaged by the 11 March, 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Subjects volunteered for assessment between December, 2011 and March, 2012. Of 466 individuals (351 female, mean age 60.4 year, SD = 14.0), 23 % of the female participants and 17 % of the male participants could be diagnosed with depression. The strongest predictors were house damage, age, income reduction, home water incursion, and casualty acquaintance. Education level, location during disaster, and workplace damage proved non-significant. The high number of retired/unemployed in the sample may have influenced outcome. Results suggest sampling influences the applicability of Conservation of Resources model to a disaster event.