Relationship between housing damage and serum cortisol among survivors of the 2011 tsunami disaster

Abstract Purpose Previous studies have suggested that individuals affected by natural disasters experience changes in their cortisol levels. However, the associations have not been consistent, with results indicating either elevated cortisol levels or reduced levels. We examined serum cortisol levels among survivors who experienced housing damage in the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Methods A cross-sectional sample was drawn from a cohort of 9,148 survivors living in three affected municipalities in Iwate prefecture, Japan (mean age, 61.0 years; men, 38.9%). Serum cortisol levels were measured between 5 to 9 months after the 2011 disaster. Housing damage was categorized into three groups: no damage, major damage, and undamaged but inundated. The association between serum cortisol and housing damage was examined using generalized linear regression. Results Cortisol levels were significantly lower in individuals who experienced major damage or inundation compared the group with no damage (coefficient [95% confidence interval (CI)]: major damage group, -0.47 ug/dL [-0.64 to -0.30], P Conclusions Severe housing damage was related to lower cortisol levels in tsunami affected survivors.