Many children have developed a fear of water and appear weak and prone to sickness. And in Fukushima, fears of radiation among adults appear to have had an impact on children.
For people living in Fukushima, stress related to radioactive fallout has deepened.
Yuji Tsutsui, 47, a professor of experimental psychology at Fukushima University, said many 3-year-old children studied in areas with high radiation levels are displaying spoiled attitudes and clinging behavior toward their parents.
Tsutsui attributed the trend to parents with radiation-related anxieties and expressed concern that the future physical strength and weight of their children may be affected by the trauma.
In Koriyama, Fukushima, the weight of about 30 4-year-olds was recorded until they turned 5. It was found that their weight increased at an average annual rate of 2.4 kg before the disaster struck, but the annual rise shrank to 1.5 kg afterward.
Pediatrician Shintaro Kikuchi, 42, of Koriyama, who conducted the study, warned this is a clear sign something abnormal is occurring.
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