Association between Health Literacy and Radiation Anxiety among Residents after a Nuclear Accident: Comparison between Evacuated and Non-Evacuated Areas

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Yujiro KurodaSeiji Yasumura

Abstract

Following the accident at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant in March 2011, both experts and the national government provided insufficient information on radiation, leading to widespread distrust in the community. This study aimed at clarifying the association between anxiety about radiation and health literacy among residents in evacuation and non-evacuation areas in Fukushima. A questionnaire survey was sent to randomly sampled residents between August and October 2016, and data from 777 responses (38.9% valid response) were analyzed. The questionnaire assessed current radiation anxiety and discrimination and prejudice based on radiation exposure through seven items and communicative and critical health literacy through five items. Multiple regression analysis of the association between radiation anxiety and health literacy showed that the level of health literacy was significantly negatively associated with radiation anxiety in the evacuation areas (marginally in the non-evacuation areas) and marginally negatively associated with discrimination and prejudice in the evacuation areas but not in the non-evacuation areas. Therefore, improving health literacy could alleviate radiation anxiety.

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Citations

Feb 27, 2020·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Sonia Ruiz de AzuaAna Gonzalez-Pinto
Aug 20, 2020·Psychogeriatrics : the Official Journal of the Japanese Psychogeriatric Society·Hajime Iwasa, Yuko Yoshida
Nov 11, 2018·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Shuhei Nomura, Michio Murakami
Nov 30, 2019·Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness·Maiko FukasawaSeiji Yasumura
Oct 24, 2020·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Hiromi KawasakiMasayuki Kakehashi
Aug 27, 2021·Behavioral Sciences·Caley Longmuir, Vincent I O Agyapong
May 26, 2021·Journal of Radiological Protection : Official Journal of the Society for Radiological Protection·Kiyotaka YasuiMichio Murakami

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