Research University of Groningen and Gronings Perspectief on increased stress in gas extraction area

After an increase in 2020, the health of Groningen residents with damage to gas will clearly decline in 2021. There is also a lack of confidence in the national government. During part of the reinforcement operation, intended to restore the safety of homes, there has been a decline in the health and perceived safety of residents. The researchers, Prof. Dr. Katherine Stroebe and Prof. Dr. Michel Dückers from the University of Groningen, conclude that the indirect consequences of gas extraction, such as the procedures and solutions for the problem, as a stressor, do not appear to be inferior to earthquakes and damage. . This is reported by the University of Groningen.

How are the perceived safety, confidence and health of Groningen residents developing in the earthquake area? What impact does reinforcement have on this? And are the indirect consequences (solutions and procedures regarding damage and reinforcement) just as bad as the ‘illness’ (earthquakes, damage to houses)? These were the questions that were central to the two panel measurements of the long-term research project of Gronings Perspectief in 2021.

Multiple damage

In April and October 2021 there will be a striking decline in the health of residents with (multiple) damage compared to previous years. Residents with multiple damage in particular have a greater health disadvantage. Confidence in central government is also declining. Stroebe: “In 2020, we actually saw an increase in health, even for residents with multiple damage. That is changing now. Why, we don’t know exactly. I think that the problem does not lend itself to optimism at the moment: there is talk of a slow-moving reinforcement operation, the threat of increasing gas extraction, many new rules and procedures. Many residents lack the prospect that things will get better soon.”

Reinforcement phase

Residents whose homes are reinforced are more at risk: they have poorer health and feel less safe than those not affected by reinforcements. Additional analyzes show that it matters which reinforcement phase residents are in: when residents enter the phase between assessment and planning, their health drops and they feel less safe. There will be some recovery once construction is complete, but it is unclear whether that will continue. Stroebe: “If reinforcement should lead to an improvement in health and safety, this is not reflected in the analysis. The opposite seems to be the case, although additional analyzes are needed. It is clear from the current analyzes that attention is in any case required for residents who are in the phase between assessment and planning. That is not going well.”

Research

The current research unequivocally confirms that the hassle with authorities and procedures that residents experience due to the gas extraction problem has a negative impact on health, sense of safety and trust. Where reinforcement should be a solution to the problem, it turns out to be a stressor. Residents themselves also indicate that indirect consequences (slow and unfair procedures, long-term uncertainty) make them vulnerable to the gas extraction problem. Stroebe: “Our previous studies show that dealing with authorities and procedures is very stressful. We further substantiate this in this report. This means that the solutions offered may be almost as bad as the original ailment, earthquakes and damage.”

By: National Education Guide