Healthy Warrior Effect With Deployment to United Nations Peacekeeping Operation: A Longitudinal Study Among Japan Ground Self-Defense Forces.

Introduction: The "healthy warrior effect" (HWE), in which deployed military personnel are healthier than those not deployed, is known to be associated with deployment. However, the HWE associated with deployment to United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations (PKO) has not been examined. This study examined the HWE associated with deployment to UN PKO by examining the impact of pre-deployment mental health on the likelihood of deployment and whether this difference persisted after deployment.

Longitudinal effects of disaster-related experiences on problem drinking among Fukushima nuclear plant workers.

Background: In the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster of March 11, 2011, plant workers were exposed to various traumatic events and reported a subsequent increase in alcohol use. To determine the relationship between disaster-related experiences and problem drinking, we conducted a three-year follow-up study.

Methods: Problem drinking among the nuclear plant workers was assessed annually from 2012-2014 using a modified version of the CAGE questionnaire that asked about current, rather than lifetime, drinking.

Japanese public health nurses classified based on empathy and secondary traumatic stress: variable-centered and person-centered approaches.

Background: Healthcare providers frequently help traumatized people and are regularly exposed to indirect trauma from their work, resulting in negative psychological responses, such as secondary traumatic stress. Empathy has been associated with patient's quality of care and secondary traumatic stress among healthcare providers. However, the relationship between dispositional empathy and secondary traumatic stress has not been fully elucidated.