IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i7p4343-d787039.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Association between Social Isolation and Total Mortality after the Great East Japan Earthquake in Iwate Prefecture: Findings from the TMM CommCohort Study

Author

Listed:
  • Yuka Kotozaki

    (Iwate Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Iwate Medical University, Morioka 028-3694, Iwate, Japan)

  • Kozo Tanno

    (Iwate Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Iwate Medical University, Morioka 028-3694, Iwate, Japan
    Department of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Iwate Medical University, Morioka 028-3694, Iwate, Japan)

  • Kiyomi Sakata

    (Iwate Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Iwate Medical University, Morioka 028-3694, Iwate, Japan
    Department of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Iwate Medical University, Morioka 028-3694, Iwate, Japan)

  • Kotaro Otsuka

    (Iwate Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Iwate Medical University, Morioka 028-3694, Iwate, Japan
    Department of Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, Iwate Medical University, Morioka 028-3694, Iwate, Japan)

  • Ryohei Sasaki

    (Division of Physical Education, Department of Human Sciences, Center for Liberal Arts and Sciences, Iwate Medical University, Morioka 028-3694, Iwate, Japan)

  • Nobuyuki Takanashi

    (Iwate Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Iwate Medical University, Morioka 028-3694, Iwate, Japan
    Department of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Iwate Medical University, Morioka 028-3694, Iwate, Japan)

  • Mamoru Satoh

    (Iwate Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Iwate Medical University, Morioka 028-3694, Iwate, Japan
    Division of Biomedical Information Analysis, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Iwate Medical University, Morioka 028-3694, Iwate, Japan)

  • Atsushi Shimizu

    (Iwate Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Iwate Medical University, Morioka 028-3694, Iwate, Japan
    Division of Biomedical Information Analysis, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Iwate Medical University, Morioka 028-3694, Iwate, Japan)

  • Makoto Sasaki

    (Iwate Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Iwate Medical University, Morioka 028-3694, Iwate, Japan
    Division of Ultrahigh Field MRI, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Iwate Medical University, Morioka 028-3694, Iwate, Japan)

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate whether social isolation is associated with mortality, together with the effect of the Great East Japan Earthquake on mortality, due to the social isolation of community residents living in the affected areas, using data from the Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Community-Based Cohort Study. A total of 22,933 participants (8059 men and 14,874 women), who were free from cancer and cardiovascular disease, were followed up with death as an endpoint for five years. Social isolation was assessed using the Lubben Social Network Scale (cut-off, 11/12). Using Cox proportional hazards models, hazard ratios (HRs) of total mortality and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) associated with social isolation (no isolation as the reference) were estimated. The latter was significantly associated with an increased risk of total mortality (1.38 (1.04–1.83) in men and 1.49 (1.02–2.19) in women). Moreover, among those with social isolation, the risk of mortality was significantly higher, especially for women with house damage and men who had experienced a death in the family. The disaster may have raised the risk of mortality due to social isolation.

Suggested Citation

  • Yuka Kotozaki & Kozo Tanno & Kiyomi Sakata & Kotaro Otsuka & Ryohei Sasaki & Nobuyuki Takanashi & Mamoru Satoh & Atsushi Shimizu & Makoto Sasaki, 2022. "Association between Social Isolation and Total Mortality after the Great East Japan Earthquake in Iwate Prefecture: Findings from the TMM CommCohort Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-11, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:7:p:4343-:d:787039
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/7/4343/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/7/4343/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Elizabeth Frankenberg & Thomas Gillespie & Samuel Preston & Bondan Sikoki & Duncan Thomas, 2011. "Mortality, The Family and The Indian Ocean Tsunami," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 121(554), pages 162-182, August.
    2. Sone, Toshimasa & Nakaya, Naoki & Sugawara, Yumi & Tomata, Yasutake & Watanabe, Takashi & Tsuji, Ichiro, 2016. "Longitudinal association between time-varying social isolation and psychological distress after the Great East Japan Earthquake," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 96-101.
    3. Julianne Holt-Lunstad & Timothy B Smith & J Bradley Layton, 2010. "Social Relationships and Mortality Risk: A Meta-analytic Review," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(7), pages 1-1, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Maria Alzira Pimenta Dinis & Helder Fernando Pedrosa Sousa & Andreia de Moura & Lilian M. F. Viterbo & Ricardo J. Pinto, 2019. "Health Behaviors as a Mediator of the Association Between Interpersonal Relationships and Physical Health in a Workplace Context," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-9, July.
    2. Evans-Polce, Rebecca J. & Staff, Jeremy & Maggs, Jennifer L., 2016. "Alcohol abstention in early adulthood and premature mortality: Do early life factors, social support, and health explain this association?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 71-79.
    3. Santini, Ziggi Ivan & Jose, Paul E. & Koyanagi, Ai & Meilstrup, Charlotte & Nielsen, Line & Madsen, Katrine R. & Koushede, Vibeke, 2020. "Formal social participation protects physical health through enhanced mental health: A longitudinal mediation analysis using three consecutive waves of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in E," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 251(C).
    4. Ruta Clair & Maya Gordon & Matthew Kroon & Carolyn Reilly, 2021. "The effects of social isolation on well-being and life satisfaction during pandemic," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 8(1), pages 1-6, December.
    5. Lena Lämmle & Alexander Woll & Gert B. M. Mensink & Klaus Bös, 2013. "Distal and Proximal Factors of Health Behaviors and Their Associations with Health in Children and Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-35, July.
    6. Maria M. Laurito & Elizabeth Frankenberg & Duncan Thomas, 2022. "Effects of Housing Aid on Psychosocial Health after a Disaster," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-18, June.
    7. Fernando L Vázquez & Patricia Otero & J Antonio García-Casal & Vanessa Blanco & Ángela J Torres & Manuel Arrojo, 2018. "Efficacy of video game-based interventions for active aging. A systematic literature review and meta-analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(12), pages 1-24, December.
    8. Valéria Teresa Saraiva Lino & Nádia Cristina Pinheiro Rodrigues & Mônica Kramer de Noronha Andrade & Inês Nascimento de Carvalho Reis & Lucília Almeida Elias Lopes & Soraya Atie, 2019. "Association between visual problems, insufficient emotional support and urinary incontinence with disability in elderly people living in a poor district in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: A six-year follow-up," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(5), pages 1-12, May.
    9. Regina Kuppen & Mirjam de Leede & Jolanda Lindenberg & David van Bodegom, 2023. "Collective Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases in an Ageing Population with Community Care," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-14, February.
    10. Joanne Brooke & Maria Clark, 2020. "Older people’s early experience of household isolation and social distancing during COVID‐19," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(21-22), pages 4387-4402, November.
    11. Qin Xiang Ng & Kuan Tsee Chee & Michelle Lee Zhi Qing De Deyn & Zenn Chua, 2020. "Staying connected during the COVID-19 pandemic," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 66(5), pages 519-520, August.
    12. Fredrica Nyqvist & Bernd Pape & Tony Pellfolk & Anna Forsman & Kristian Wahlbeck, 2014. "Structural and Cognitive Aspects of Social Capital and All-Cause Mortality: A Meta-Analysis of Cohort Studies," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 116(2), pages 545-566, April.
    13. Clément Meier & Jürgen Maurer, 2022. "Buddy or burden? Patterns, perceptions, and experiences of pet ownership among older adults in Switzerland," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 19(4), pages 1201-1212, December.
    14. Jintao Li & Yan Dai & Cynthia Changxin Wang & Jun Sun, 2022. "Assessment of Environmental Demands of Age-Friendly Communities from Perspectives of Different Residential Groups: A Case of Wuhan, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-20, July.
    15. Nakagomi, Atsushi & Tsuji, Taishi & Saito, Masashige & Ide, Kazushige & Kondo, Katsunori & Shiba, Koichiro, 2023. "Social isolation and subsequent health and well-being in older adults: A longitudinal outcome-wide analysis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 327(C).
    16. Haywantee Ramkissoon, 2021. "Social Bonding and Public Trust/Distrust in COVID-19 Vaccines," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-6, September.
    17. Di Novi, Cinzia & Martini, Gianmaria & Sturaro, Caterina, 2023. "The impact of informal and formal care disruption on older adults’ psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic in UK," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    18. Paulette M. Yamada & Joe Priest, 2022. "Utilizing a Team Kinesiology Model to Support Rehabilitative Care in Patients," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-13, February.
    19. Alexander Langenkamp, 2021. "Lonely Hearts, Empty Booths? The Relationship between Loneliness, Reported Voting Behavior and Voting as Civic Duty," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 102(4), pages 1239-1254, July.
    20. Escarce, José J. & Rocco, Lorenzo, 2018. "Immigration and the Health of Older Natives in Western Europe," GLO Discussion Paper Series 228, Global Labor Organization (GLO).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:7:p:4343-:d:787039. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.