Parental Subjective Disaster Experiences and Behavioral Problems in Children Born After the Great East Japan Earthquake: An Intergenerational Perspective

This study examined associations of parents' subjective perceptions of disaster-related harm from the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE) with their mental health and with emotional and behavioral problems in their children born post-disaster. Participants included 218 parents (207 mothers, 11 fathers) and 219 children born post-GEJE, residing in affected areas. Parents served as proxy reporters, completing measures assessing their disaster-related experiences, psychological distress, depressive symptoms, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and their children's emotional and behavioral problems. Structural equation modeling was conducted to evaluate pathways among variables. Higher disaster-impact scores were significantly associated with poorer parental mental health (β = 0.15, p = .048), which was associated with more emotional and behavioral problems in children (β = 0.43, p < .001). The relationship between disaster impact and children's outcomes was mediated through parental mental health rather than through a direct pathway. Children's psychological adjustment following large-scale disasters may be influenced by their caregivers' mental health, even without direct trauma exposure. Family-centered mental health interventions are essential components of comprehensive disaster-recovery strategies.