Los Angeles County after the 1992 civil disturbances: Degree of exposure and impact on mental health.

Rochelle F. Hanson; Dean G. Kilpatrick; John R. Freedy; Benjamin E. Saunders

doi:10.1037/0022-006x.63.6.987

Abstract

The impact of the 1992 Los Angeles (L.A.) civil disturbances on psychosocial functioning was assessed as part of a larger project investigating the views and attitudes of residents in L.A. County. Random digit dialing methodology identified a household probability sample of 1,200 adults (age 18 or older) from L.A. County. Respondents completed a telephone interview 6 to 8 months after the disturbances. Respondents' degree of exposure to the disturbances, mental health impact of the disturbances, and mental health effects of chronic versus acute exposure to violence were assessed. Consistent with hypotheses, the impact of the disturbances was the worst in the South Central communities. Higher rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; both diagnostic level and subclinical symptomatology) were found among respondents who reported disturbance-related experiences. Exposure to an acute event (i.e., the disturbances) was predictive of current PTSD symptomatology after controlling for demographics, lifetime trauma, and other types of stressful events.

Keywords

PsychosocialMental healthSubclinical infectionPsychologyDemographicsPsychiatryOccupational safety and healthInjury preventionSuicide preventionPublic healthPosttraumatic stressRandom digit dialingPoison controlClinical psychologyDemographyMedicineGerontologyEnvironmental healthPopulation

MeSH Terms

AdolescentAdultAgedCivil DisordersCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansIncidenceLos AngelesMaleMiddle AgedPersonality AssessmentSocial EnvironmentStress DisordersPost-TraumaticUrban Population

Affiliated Institutions

University of Florida Health US

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Publication Info

Year: 1995
Type: article
Volume: 63
Issue: 6
Pages: 987-996
Citations: 64
Access: Closed

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APA Style

                            
                                
                                    Rochelle F. Hanson, 
                                
                                    Dean G. Kilpatrick, 
                                
                                    John R. Freedy
                                
                                et al.
                            
                            (1995). 
                            Los Angeles County after the 1992 civil disturbances: Degree of exposure and impact on mental health.. 
                            Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
                            , 63
                            (6)
                            , 987-996.
                            https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006x.63.6.987
                        

Identifiers

DOI: 10.1037/0022-006x.63.6.987
PMID: 8543721

Data Quality

Data completeness: 81%