S . Ito and A . Goto : Radioprotection 2024 , 59 ( 3 ), 211 – 219 217
Table 5 . Multiple regression analysis with child care ( FPAM ) scores as the dependent variable among those desiring to have children in the future .
FPAM : Caring for a child b SE sb p-value 95 % CI VIF Lower Upper
Neighboring Prefectures ( Male ): R 2 = . 44 , aR 2 = . 30 . ( Constant ) |
– 2.1 |
3.0 |
|
0.484 |
– 8.2 |
3.9 |
|
Presence of a person to give advice about radiation |
0.8 |
0.4 |
0.2 |
0.036 |
0.1 |
1.6 |
1.3 |
Knowledge of radiation |
0.7 |
0.2 |
0.3 |
0.003 |
0.2 |
1.1 |
1.2 |
HL : Communicative |
– 0.3 |
0.1 |
– 0.4 |
0.025 |
– 0.5 |
0.0 |
3.0 |
HL : Critical |
0.5 |
0.2 |
0.4 |
0.017 |
0.1 |
0.9 |
3.3 |
Neighboring Prefectures ( Female ): R 2 = . 16 , aR 2 = . 03 . ( Constant ) |
7.2 |
3.0 |
|
0.017 |
1.3 |
13.1 |
|
Knowledge of radiation |
– 0.6 |
0.3 |
– 0.2 |
0.041 |
– 1.2 |
0.0 |
1.2 |
Other Prefectures ( Male ): R 2 = . 22 , aR 2 = . 10 . ( Constant ) |
11.0 |
2.9 |
|
0.000 |
5.3 |
16.6 |
|
Self-esteem |
– 0.1 |
0.0 |
– 0.3 |
0.045 |
– 0.2 |
0.0 |
2.0 |
Other Prefectures ( Female ): R 2 = . 23 , aR 2 = . 14 . ( Constant ) |
7.3 |
2.3 |
|
0.002 |
2.7 |
11.8 |
|
Presence of a person to give advice about radiation |
0.7 |
0.3 |
0.2 |
0.028 |
0.1 |
1.3 |
1.1 |
Risk perception of radiation health effects : genetic effects |
– 0.9 |
0.4 |
– 0.4 |
0.036 |
– 1.7 |
– 0.1 |
5.0 |
HL : Communicative |
– 0.3 |
0.1 |
– 0.4 |
0.002 |
– 0.5 |
– 0.1 |
3.3 |
HL : Critical |
0.3 |
0.1 |
0.3 |
0.029 |
0.0 |
0.6 |
3.5 |
a R2 = adjusted R 2 ; sb = standardized partial regression coefficient ; SE = standard error . Age , marital status , living alone , and stress were entered as adjustment variables .
may be important to provide more information about the effects of radiation on their partners .
Among those with a desire to have children , the results of the present study revealed that factors influencing confidence in future childbearing and child-rearing vary by prefecture and gender . Regarding women in Fukushima Prefecture , those who were more confident about future childbearing were more likely to believe that the health risks to their children and grandchildren from radiation exposure would be low and to be able to consult a mental health professional or other specialist . On the other hand , among women in neighboring prefectures , those who were more confident about future childbearing were less likely to consult a mental health professional . A 2018 survey of female university students in Fukushima Prefecture reported finding no association between confidence in future childbearing and consultation with a mental health professional ( Ito et al ., 2023 ). Results vary , but as a region-specific strategy , distributing pamphlets encouraging women in Fukushima to consult a mental health professional or other specialist may be effective in building confidence in childbearing .
Among those who wanted to have a baby , no factors were found to be associated with confidence in future childcare among men or women in Fukushima Prefecture . Among men from neighboring prefectures , those who were more confident about future child-rearing were more likely to have someone to talk to about radiation and to be knowledgeable about radiation . In addition , the more knowledgeable women in nearby prefectures perceived themselves to be about radiation , the higher their confidence in rearing children in the future . The results obtained for Fukushima differ from those in previous studies ( Ito et al ., 2023 ). In a study of female university students in Fukushima Prefecture , their confidence in future child-rearing was associated with a belief that the health risks associated with radiation exposure were low . The factors affecting confidence in future childbearing and childrearing among those who wanted to have children differed by prefecture and gender , suggesting the need for individualized measures as mentioned above .
This study has three main strengths . First , it reveals the actual status of anxiety about future childbirth and childrearing at 11 years after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident . Second , the survey covered not only women , but also men . Previous surveys on pregnancy , childbirth , and childcare after the nuclear accident have been limited to women and pregnant women ; the actual situation of men has not been clarified . Third , we were able to examine whether the experience of radiation exposure was related to future childbearing intentions .
This study also has some limitations . First , a random sampling of Fukushima Prefecture residents was not possible , so this survey was conducted using an Internet research company . However , the number of registered respondents who were living in Fukushima Prefecture at the time of the nuclear accident was small . As a result , the sample size in Fukushima Prefecture was also small , which resulted in differences in basic attributes . Second , this study did not include any survey items on reproductive health-related factors such as financial status or educational attainment ; these items are usually included in studies on pregnancy intention . Moreover , other reproductive health-related factors such as marital relationship and marital duration , which are also typically included in