自尊心が守る脳と健康—東日本大震災における追跡調査から

Self-esteem Saves Brain and Health: Evidence from a Follow-up Investigation after the Great East Japan Earthquake

自尊心は，メンタルヘルスにおいて重要な概念であり，われわれの研究でも，自尊心の高さが東日本大震災後のストレスによる脳形態変化からの回復を予測する因子と特定している。本稿では，自尊心と脳形態に関わる諸研究および，自尊心が心理社会的ストレス耐性を生む心理学的，生理学的なメカニズムに関する研究を紹介し，非・日常体験である「震災後のストレス」に備えるべく自尊心を向上させる方法について考察を加える。

Abstract

Self-esteem plays a crucial role in mental health status. Past studies have revealed higher self-esteem as one of the most important traits of resilience in the context of stressful life events. In fact, our recent studies demonstrated that high self-esteem is a predicting factor for the recovery from brain volume reduction due to the post-earthquake distress. In this article, we introduce structural brain magnetic resonance imaging research with respect to self-esteem as well as past investigations about psychological and physiological backgrounds of tolerance to psycho-social stressors in individuals with high self-esteem. Finally, we discuss effective methods for improving self-esteem to manage unusual events like natural disaster.