Chernobyl disaster sequelae in recent immigrants to the United States from the former Soviet Union (FSU).
Long-term mental health sequelae of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster have been documented for exposed populations who remained in the former Soviet Union (FSU) (Havenaar et al., 1997), and in a cohort migrated to Israel (Cwikel et al., 1997). This paper reports on Chernobyl disaster sequelae in émigrés (n = 321) to the United States. Demographic characteristics, migration factors, and self-reported physical health were considered. Both geographical proximity to the 1986 disaster, and perception of radiation risk stood as long-term indicators of current psychological distress. Proximity was related to poor self-perceived physical health, as well as current symptoms of depression (p<.05), anxiety (p<.01), and Chernobyl-related trauma distress (p<.001) on standardized measures. Environmental contamination as a reason for migration was also associated with greater mental health symptomatology.
Foster
RoseMarie Perez
RP
School of Social Work, Glass Center for Mental Health Research, One Washington Square North, New York, NY 10003, USA. rosemarie.foster@nyu.edu
Goldstein
Marjorie F
MF
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D047852:Chernobyl Nuclear Accident; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D014586:USSR / Q000208:ethnology; D014481:United States