Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: In 2020, a human–wildlife conflict (HWC) occurred in Ishikawa Prefecture owing to the excessive appearance of the Japanese black bear (JBB). Focusing on hidden impacts other than crop and human injuries caused by HWC, this study investigated behavioral changes in residents and the impacts on health and social relations. Research on the health and social impacts of HWC is limited, and an analysis based on an online survey conducted in February 2021 yielded the following new results: 1) adverse health effects can only be expected if there is an extreme decrease in outdoor activity, 2) mental health effects are more pronounced if the decrease in time spent outdoors makes it difficult to maintain the status quo, and 3) decreased activity over time is associated with the loss of psychological well-being and the risk of insomnia and depressive symptoms. Presumedly, the symptoms caused by HWC related to JBBs manifested in society. In this case, there will be a negative social impact of weakening the rural community, which is maintained by residents’ proactive self-governing behavior. At the individual level, an increase in medical expenditure is also expected to negatively impact household finances.
Authors: Ryohei Yamashita, Tomoya Kishioka
Institutions: Ishikawa Prefectural University, Kanazawa University
Language: English
Subfield: Ecology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
Awards: Construction of symbiotic systems with wildlife in urban areas, G4985153953, Institutional design of a new environmental tax based on the assumption of external capital investment in rural and mountainous areas, Farm management theory for adaptation to climate change, 公的農林統計の長期パネルデータ化と統合データベースの構築による高度利用基盤の確立
OpenAlex ID: W4403384243