Association between post-traumatic stress symptoms and physical and mental conditions of disaster rehabilitation supporters during support activities.

Abstract

Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been reported among both survivors and response workers following large natural disasters. The Japan Disaster Rehabilitation Assistance Team (JRAT) provides rehabilitation-focused support;however, few studies have examined post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) among JRAT members. This study investigated the relationship between PTSS and the physical and mental conditions of JRAT members during support activities.

Methods: A questionnaire on job type, activity location, sleep quality, meal quality, fatigue, physical symptoms, and psychological symptoms was distributed among 23 JRAT members one month after deployment. PTSS were assessed using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), a self-report screening questionnaire.

Results: Overall, 27.3% of participants were classified into the probable PTSS group. Compared with the non-probable group, they reported significantly poorer sleep quality, more physical symptoms, and greater fatigue, whereas psychological symptoms were more common in the non-probable group.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that limited disaster relief experience, discrepancies between expectations and reality, and stress responses during relief activities may be associated with higher PTSS levels among JRAT members, underscoring the importance of comprehensive management of both physical and mental health across deployment phases.