Abstract
This research analyzed the immediate reactions of 315 children (176 boys, 136 girls; 166 first-born) aged 0-16 years (mean=6.1, SD=2.4) to a major earthquake in January 1995 that killed more than 6,400 people. It examined children's ability to avoid hazards from sudden natural disasters. The earthquake onset was at 5:46 AM; 75.2% of the children were reportedly asleep in the same room with their parent(s) at the moment and 10.5% were alone. Parents were surprised by the earthquake, but many children's reactions were much weaker. About 30% of them reported little or no surprise, and even slept through the moment. Younger children had less of a reaction, and a frightened reaction was more notable after 7 years of age. Parents' typical reaction was to make bodily contact by embracing or lying over their children, and many grasped the hands of older children. The reactions of the children and parents were interpreted as developmental indicators of children's autonomous coping and Kowakare (mother-offspring mutual autonomy).
