Long-term effects of housing damage on survivors' health in rural China: Evidence from a survey 10 Years after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake

Associations between housing and psychological damage by earthquake and modifiable risk factors for dementia in general older adults: Tohoku Medical Megabank community-based cohort study

AIM

To evaluate the association between housing and psychological damage caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE) and modifiable risk factors (MRFs) of dementia for general population of older adults.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study enrolled 29 039 community-dwelling older adults (mean age 69.1 ± 2.9 years, 55.5% women). We evaluated disaster-related damage (by complete or not complete housing damage) and psychological damage (by post-traumatic stress reaction [PTSR]) after the GEJE using a self-report questionnaire. MRFs encompassed the presence of depression, social isolation, physical inactivity, smoking, and diabetes. We examined the association between disaster-related damage and MRFs using ordinary least squares and modified Poisson regression models adjusted for sociodemographic and health status variables.

RESULTS

Complete housing damage and PTSR were identified in 2704 (10.0%) and 855 (3.2%) individuals, respectively. The number of MRFs was significantly larger for the individuals with complete housing damage (β = 0.23; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.19-0.27) and PTSR (β = 0.60; 95% CI: 0.53-0.67). Prevalence ratios (PRs) for depression and physical inactivity were higher in individuals with complete housing damage. The PRs for all domains of the MRFs were significantly higher in individuals with PTSR.

CONCLUSIONS

Housing and psychological damage caused by the GEJE were associated with an increased risk factor of dementia. To attenuate the risk of dementia, especially among older victims who have experienced housing and psychological damage after a disaster, multidimensional support across various aspects of MRFs is required. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 509-516.

The impact of natural disasters on household debt: evidence from 2014 China family panel studies

Based on data from the 2014 China Family Panel Studies, we investigate the causal relationship between natural disasters and household debt using ordinary least squares and propensity score matching. This paper found that natural disasters can not only increase the probability of households owning debt but also have a significant positive impact on the number of household debt. The results of heterogeneity analysis show that natural disasters have a greater impact on families with large sizes and high-consumption levels. Mechanism checks suggest that household income and individual's health are shown to be the potential mechanism through which the impact of natural disasters on household debt.

Consequences of living environment insecurity on health and well-being in southwest China: The role of community cohesion and social support

Growing populations in developing countries have exacerbated inequality in the spatial distribution of living environments. As a result, whether living environment factors matter to health and well-being is increasingly attracting policy and scholarly attention. Yet, crucial knowledge gaps remain regarding the implications, consequences and mechanisms of one's living environment on health and well-being in developing countries. This study examined the association between living environment and psychological distress, self-rated health and satisfaction with life among Chinese adults. Furthermore, it also explored the moderating role of community cohesion and the mediating role of social support on these factors. Using probability proportionate to size sampling methods, 3765 respondents and 148 community organisers were recruited from 160 communities in Yunnan, China, in 2018. Ordinary least squares regression and structural equation modelling were conducted. The findings indicate that residents who lived in communities with higher levels of environment insecurity had lower levels of subjective health and well-being (psychological distress: β = 1.088, p < 0.001; self-rated health: β = -0.104, p < 0.01; satisfaction with life: β = -0.164, p < 0.001). Moreover, community cohesion played a moderating role in the relationship between living environment insecurity and self-rated health (β = 0.212, p < 0.05) and satisfaction with life (β = 0.183, p < 0.05); however, it had no significant effects on psychological distress. Furthermore, the moderated effects of community cohesion on living environment insecurity were mediated through perceived social support for self-rated health (proportion of total effect mediated = 11%) and satisfaction with life (proportion of total effect mediated = 29%). The present findings have implications for policy makers and community committees who can work towards social inequality in developing countries. The integrated programmes of improving living conditions and strengthening community capacity are crucial to residents' health and well-being.