Survey and comparison of psychological factors between descendants and non-descendants of survivors of the atomic bomb: Generational differences in mental health indicators.
Atomic bomb survivors
Depressive symptoms
Generational factors
Health anxiety
Intergenerational transmission
Journal
Journal of psychiatric research
ISSN: 1879-1379
Titre abrégé: J Psychiatr Res
Pays: England
ID NLM: 0376331
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
04 2021
04 2021
Historique:
received:
13
02
2020
revised:
22
01
2021
accepted:
22
01
2021
pubmed:
1
3
2021
medline:
15
5
2021
entrez:
28
2
2021
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
The effects of the atomic bomb experience on survivors and their children have been a topic of human and research interest since early in the postwar era. The topic has centered around knowledge of physical health and studies on germline genetic effects in the second-generation offspring of survivors. However, comparatively little has been done to understand the psychological impact. The present study focuses on generational factors related to the psychological makeup of second and third generation descendants of atomic bomb survivors. Specifically, this study takes depressive symptoms and factors related to health anxiety into consideration as mental health indicators to offer preliminary evidence that addresses this gap. Data was collected from participants with and without familial affiliation to atomic bomb survivors stratified by age. This resulted in 50 participants that reported having at least one parent who was an atomic bomb survivor categorized as second-generation descendants, 50 participants with at least one grandparent that was an atomic bomb survivor, 50 unrelated participants within an age range of 50-69, and 50 unrelated participants within an age range of 30-49. Depressive symptom severity among participants was examined with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and health anxiety was examined using the Sense of Health Anxiety Scale (SHAS). A significant difference was observed for participants without relatives who experienced the atomic bomb such that depressive symptom scores for second generation participants were higher than third generation participants (F (1, 197) = 8.38, p < .01, η Our findings indicated a difference in depressive symptom tendencies between second and third generation individuals related to atomic bomb survivors. These results suggest that future studies examine the difference in psychological effects between generations as they relate to possible processes that lead to an increase in depressive symptoms.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
The effects of the atomic bomb experience on survivors and their children have been a topic of human and research interest since early in the postwar era. The topic has centered around knowledge of physical health and studies on germline genetic effects in the second-generation offspring of survivors. However, comparatively little has been done to understand the psychological impact.
PURPOSE
The present study focuses on generational factors related to the psychological makeup of second and third generation descendants of atomic bomb survivors. Specifically, this study takes depressive symptoms and factors related to health anxiety into consideration as mental health indicators to offer preliminary evidence that addresses this gap.
OBJECTIVE
Data was collected from participants with and without familial affiliation to atomic bomb survivors stratified by age. This resulted in 50 participants that reported having at least one parent who was an atomic bomb survivor categorized as second-generation descendants, 50 participants with at least one grandparent that was an atomic bomb survivor, 50 unrelated participants within an age range of 50-69, and 50 unrelated participants within an age range of 30-49.
METHOD
Depressive symptom severity among participants was examined with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and health anxiety was examined using the Sense of Health Anxiety Scale (SHAS).
RESULT
A significant difference was observed for participants without relatives who experienced the atomic bomb such that depressive symptom scores for second generation participants were higher than third generation participants (F (1, 197) = 8.38, p < .01, η
CONCLUSION
Our findings indicated a difference in depressive symptom tendencies between second and third generation individuals related to atomic bomb survivors. These results suggest that future studies examine the difference in psychological effects between generations as they relate to possible processes that lead to an increase in depressive symptoms.
Identifiants
pubmed: 33640541
pii: S0022-3956(21)00054-6
doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.01.043
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
398-401Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Ltd.