Influences of Social Capital on Natural Disaster Research in Japan

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to seek fresh insight into those aspects of social capital that increase individuals' health and well-being after a disaster such as the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011. This paper is organized as follows. The theoretical development of the social capital is presented in a literature review. Then, the design and results of the free answers in the open-ended question is described. Finally, this study investigates whether previous findings on the bright and dark sides of social capital and psychological stress are confirmed and highlights how the bright and dark sides of social capital has affected psychological stress, health, and well-being in Japanese disaster context. In other words, the significant mechanisms and roles of social capital in a disaster context is explored. Based on the findings, the theoretical and practical contributions of this study to disaster research are discussed.