Awareness of Nursery Teachers about Childcare in an Area Affected by Radiation:

A Quantitative and Qualitative Approach Focusing on Challenges and Difficulties

Abstract

This study aimed to clarify the awareness of nursery teachers about childcare who worked in Fukushima, a prefecture that was severely impacted by the radiation disaster due to the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. To this end, quantitative, free-description, interview surveys were conducted in Fukushima and other non-impacted prefectures. The results revealed that nursery teachers in Fukushima had a lower degree of negative awareness about childcare than those in the other prefectures. In addition, nursery teachers in Fukushima mainly worried about children’s growth. By contrast, nursery teachers in the other prefectures were largely distressed by relationship with parents and other nursery teachers. In turmoil immediately after the earthquake, nursery teachers in Fukushima stayed close to parents and overcame the difficulties by cooperating with co-workers.