Editor-in-chief

Prof. Paul Sudnik

Munich University of Applied Sciences, Germany

As the Editor-in-Chief of IJSSH, I invite you to contribute your scholarly work to our esteemed publication. The journal publishes papers which focus on the advanced researches in the field of all aspects of social science and humanity. I'll endeavour to make this journal grow better and hopefully it will become a recognized journal among researchers and scholars in related fields.

Home > Archive > 2026 > Volume 16, Number 1, 2026
IJSSH 2026 Vol.16(1): 38-42
doi: 10.18178/ijssh.2026.16.1.1276

Exploring Children's Mental Health during Natural Disasters in Japan: A Scoping Review

Mahiro Moriya 1, Chinatsu Fujii 1, Nana Saito 2, Ayana Shikakura 3 Momoka Yamada 4and Yumiko Aikawa 5，Manami Yasuda 5,*
1. Institute of Science Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
2. Hasegawa Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
3. Nippon Medical School Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
4. Gyotoku General Hospital, Chiba, Japan
5. Iryo Sosei University, Chiba, Japan
Email: yasuda.manami@isu.ac.jp (M.Y.)
*Corresponding author

Manuscript received September 10, 2025; accepted October 23, 2025; published March 26, 2026.

Abstract— Background and aim: Japan has experienced numerous earthquakes. However, there is a paucity of research on the impact of earthquakes on children’s mental health. The objective of this study was to elucidate the impact of natural disasters, particularly earthquakes, on children’s mental health, and to assess the optimal provision of psychological support to children in disaster-stricken areas. Methods: A literature study was conducted using the scoping review method for literature published from 2014 to 2024. Results: Natural disasters have been shown to have serious psychological effects on children, causing problems such as anxiety, depression, and aggression. Observations revealed differences in the effects based on age. Symptoms manifested earlier in life for younger children, while introverted problems tended to emerge over time for older children. Conclusions: The psychological effects of disasters on children often manifest over time; therefore, we believe that a long-term, continuous support and monitoring system is necessary, extending beyond the initial response phase after a disaster. Furthermore, given the pivotal role of a regular lifestyle in maintaining mental and physical well-being, it is imperative for adults to recognize its significance and promote regular routines. It was suggested that appropriate interventions by such supporters and the community may promote posttraumatic growth in children. Future initiatives will include the enhancement of pediatric-focused disaster mental health care and the continuation of long-term research.

Keywords— natural disaster, children, mental health, nursing, support

Cite: Mahiro Moriya, Nana Saito, Ayana Shikakura, Chinatsu Fujii, Momoka Yamada, Yumiko Aikawa, and Manami Yasuda, " Exploring Children’s Mental Health during Natural Disasters in Japan: A Scoping Review," International Journal of Social Science and Humanity, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 38-42, 2026.


Copyright © 2026 by the authors. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited (CC BY 4.0).
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