Posttraumatic stress and change in lifestyle among the Hanshin-Awaji earthquake victims

Background. In 1995, Japan's Hanshin-Awaji area was severely damaged by a m ajor earthquake. Lifestyle factors, sometimes associated with physical heal th and mortality, have also been known to be associated with mental health status. This report examines the relationship between the subsequent change in lifestyle and the psychological stress induced by the earthquake. Method. An investigation was made of 108 male inhabitants of Awaji Island a s to their individual lifestyle before and after the great earthquake, any posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and their demographic variab les. Results. The mean PTSD score was higher in the worse lifestyle group than i n the no/better lifestyle change group. Category B or D of PTSD scores were higher in the worse lifestyle group than in the no/better lifestyle change group. The percentage of subjects who lived in temporary public housing wa s higher in the worse lifestyle group than in the no/better lifestyle chang e group Conclusions. Worse change in lifestyle might be associated with high PTSD s core in victims of Hanshin-Awaji earthquake, (C) 1999 American Health Found ation and Academic Press.