11-year trends of psychological impact on Fukushima mothers and children post-nuclear accident

This study examined changes in the mental health of mothers and children living in low-dose radiation areas over 5 years following the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident and 11 years after the accident. The mothers' and children's psychological symptoms, such as stress, depression, and anxiety about radiation, were particularly strong immediately after the accident and diminished with time. However, the survey conducted 11 years after the accident showed that those symptoms remained higher among mothers and children in Fukushima than in unaffected prefectures, indicating the impact persisted for at least 11 years. An age-period-cohort analysis of children's psychological symptoms showed a weak cohort effect, indicating that preschool children were greatly affected at the time of the accident. The results suggest that it is necessary to provide support aimed at improving the mental health not only of residents who evacuated from highly contaminated areas following the nuclear accident but also of residents in low-dose radiation-contaminated areas where evacuation orders were not issued. Moreover, the findings underscore the importance of monitoring the psychological development of children who grew up in these areas. • After the Fukushima accident, the psychological impact on mothers and children in low-dose radiation areas was strong. • After the Fukushima accident, psychological effects on mothers and children in low-dose areas persisted for 11 years. • Preschoolers at the time of the Fukushima accident experienced the greatest psychological impact related to the event.