Qualitative Research on the Psychological State of Japanese Junior High School Students Who Had Experienced a Disaster

Abstract

  The present study analyzed compositions written by 242 junior high school students about their feelings and thoughts 1 month after they had experienced the 2004 Niigata Chuetsu Earthquake, in order to describe the students’ psychological state.  The analysis was done using a modified grounded theory approach.  From the analysis, 56 concepts were extracted and organized into 32 categories, which were further summarized into 5 groups.  The results revealed that the students’ feelings of uneasiness were ameliorated by being with their family and friends.  This suggests that schools should reopen as soon as possible after a disaster, because they are a place where students can receive psychological support.  The students viewed their circumstances calmly.  A typical coping strategy was the thought, “I am still better off than other people.”  In addition, the students expressed their hope that their community would soon recover.