Criticism by community people and poor workplace communication as risk factors for the mental health of local welfare workers after the Great East Japan Earthquake: A cross-sectional study.

After a large-scale natural disaster, demand for social welfare services increases, and the mental health of local social welfare workers becomes a matter of great concern because of their dual role as support providers and disaster survivors. We examined whether work-related social stressors, including criticism by community people and poor workplace communication, were associated with increased risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, or psychological distress 20-22 months after the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE; March 11, 2011) in local social welfare workers. Demographic characteristics, disaster-related risk factors (near-death experience, dead/missing family members, loss of housing), and work-related social risk factors (criticism, lack of communication) were obtained 20-22 months after the GEJE from 822 local workers. Questionnaires measured PTSD, depression, and psychological stress. Bivariate and multivariate regression analyses were applied. More local social welfare workers suffered from mental health problems than would be expected. Criticism by community people was significantly associated with probable PTSD and high psychological distress (adjusted odds ratio = 2.31 and 2.55, respectively). Furthermore, lack of workplace communication was associated with probable PTSD, depression, and high psychological distress (adjusted odds ratio = 3.97, 4.27, and 4.65, respectively). Almost 2 years after the disaster, local relief workers still suffered from mental health problems. Because post-disaster work-related social stressors constitute risk factors for these mental health problems, measures to improve working conditions and prevent and treat mental disorders should be a priority

Shakyo2012_English(aggregate the age)

Shakyo2012_English(aggregate the age

Bivariate analysis of factors associated with psychological symptoms.

<p>Bivariate analysis of factors associated with psychological symptoms.</p

Criticism by community people and poor workplace communication as risk factors for the mental health of local welfare workers after the Great East Japan Earthquake: A cross-sectional study

<div><p>After a large-scale natural disaster, demand for social welfare services increases, and the mental health of local social welfare workers becomes a matter of great concern because of their dual role as support providers and disaster survivors. We examined whether work-related social stressors, including criticism by community people and poor workplace communication, were associated with increased risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, or psychological distress 20–22 months after the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE; March 11, 2011) in local social welfare workers. Demographic characteristics, disaster-related risk factors (near-death experience, dead/missing family members, loss of housing), and work-related social risk factors (criticism, lack of communication) were obtained 20–22 months after the GEJE from 822 local workers. Questionnaires measured PTSD, depression, and psychological stress. Bivariate and multivariate regression analyses were applied. More local social welfare workers suffered from mental health problems than would be expected. Criticism by community people was significantly associated with probable PTSD and high psychological distress (adjusted odds ratio = 2.31 and 2.55, respectively). Furthermore, lack of workplace communication was associated with probable PTSD, depression, and high psychological distress (adjusted odds ratio = 3.97, 4.27, and 4.65, respectively). Almost 2 years after the disaster, local relief workers still suffered from mental health problems. Because post-disaster work-related social stressors constitute risk factors for these mental health problems, measures to improve working conditions and prevent and treat mental disorders should be a priority.</p></div

Multivariate analysis of factors associated with psychological symptoms.

<p>Multivariate analysis of factors associated with psychological symptoms.</p

Participant characteristics and psychological symptoms.

<p>Participant characteristics and psychological symptoms.</p

Chemical Analysis of the Sugar Moiety of Monohexosylceramide Contained in Koji, Japanese Traditional Rice Fermented with Aspergillus

Koji, rice fermented with Aspergillus, is used for saccharification of starch contained in crops during the manufacturing of many of Japanese traditional foods and drinks. Japanese people have long eaten koji, and many beneficial substances have been reported to be contained in koji. However, there has been no report on the existence or content of galactosylceramide in koji. To address this issue, we analyzed the chemical composition of the sugar moiety of monohexosylceramide contained in koji, and elucidate that 30.3% of yellow koji is galactosylceramide, 69.7% of that is glucosylceramide, 19.2% of white koji is galactosylceramide, and 80.8% of that is glucosylceramide. This is the first report of the existence and content of galactosylceramide in koji