Attitudes toward future child-rearing among male and female adults without children in different prefectures at 11 years after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident

Abstract

This study aimed to determine whether confidence in future childbearing and child-rearing in relation to radiation exposure differs among people without children in Fukushima Prefecture, its neighboring prefectures (Tochigi, Ibaraki, and Miyagi), and other prefectures, and among men and women at 11 years after the nuclear accident. In February 2022, a cross-sectional online survey was conducted using an Internet research company. A total of 985 people were surveyed: 240 from Fukushima, 305 from neighboring prefectures, and 440 from other prefectures. The proportion of women who were confident about future childbearing was low and the confidence was associated with radiation-related risk perceptions in both Fukushima and neighboring prefectures. The results suggest that the more people want to have children in the future, the more likely they will be able to discuss radiation, and the less likely they will be able to believe that radiation has a low impact on their partners. Therefore, it is necessary to create an environment where people can openly discuss radiation, and to examine factors that affect confidence in future childbearing and child-rearing by gender and prefecture.