Anxiety, Stress and Coping
Volume 13, Issue 4, 2000, Pages 413-439

Long-term stress reactions in new immigrants to Israel exposed to the chernobyl accident (Article)

Cwikel J.G.* , Abdelgani A. , Rozovski U. , Kordysh E. , Goldsmith J.R. , Quastel M.R.
  • a Charlotte B. and Jack J. Spitzer D., Ctr. for Women's Hlth. Studs. and P., P.O.B. 653, Beer Sheba, 84105, Israel
  • b Charlotte B. and Jack J. Spitzer D., Ctr. for Women's Hlth. Studs. and P., P.O.B. 653, Beer Sheba, 84105, Israel
  • c Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, P.O.B. 653, Beer Sheba, 84105, Israel
  • d Epidemiol. and Hlth. Serv. Eval. U., Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, P.O.B. 653, Beer Sheba, 84105, Israel
  • e Epidemiol. and Hlth. Serv. Eval. U., Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, P.O.B. 653, Beer Sheba, 84105, Israel
  • f Institute for Nuclear Medicine, Soroka Hospital, Beer Sheba, Israel

Abstract

This comparison study examined the relation between presumed level of exposure to the accident at Chernobyl in 1986 to symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other psychological symptoms (depression, somatization, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive style and interpersonal sensitivity), life events and the negative appraisal of the events surrounding the accident. The sample (N = 708) included new immigrants from the former Soviet Union (Confederation of Independent States) who arrived in Israel since 1989 from more exposed areas (n = 137), less exposed (n = 240) and a comparison sample (n = 331) who immigrated from other republics. The exposed groups had higher mean scores on all psychological outcome measures than the comparison group, particularly symptoms of PTSD. Both subsequent stressful life events and a negative, cognitive assessment of events contributed to present psychological distress, independent of exposure.

Author Keywords

immigrants disasters Nuclear power Appraisal of events PTSD

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0034344358&doi=10.1080%2f10615800008248344&partnerID=40&md5=a0af9dacc0222455512285232eda24df
DOI: 10.1080/10615800008248344
ISSN: 10615806
Cited by: 11
Original Language: English