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Ethnic Differences in Symptoms of Post-traumatic Stress after the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Lawrence A. Palinkas ,
John S. Petterson ,
John C. Russell  and
Michael A. Downs
Lawrence A. Palinkas*
Affiliation:
Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, USA
John S. Petterson
Affiliation:
Impact Assessment, Inc., La Jolla, California, USA
John C. Russell
Affiliation:
InfoMatrix, Inc., Placerville, California, USA
Michael A. Downs
Affiliation:
EDAW, Inc, San Diego, California, USA
*
Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California, San Diego 9500, Gilman Drive La Jolla, CA 92093-0807, USA E-mail: lpalinkas@ucsd.edu.
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Abstract

Introduction:

Previous studies have reported ethnic differences in the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but the reasons for these differences remain unclear.

Hypothesis:

Ethnic differences in the prevalence of PTSD may reflect ethnic differences in (1) exposure to traumatic events; (2) appraisal of such event as traumatic; and (3) culturally-determined responses to standardized diagnostic instruments, reflecting differences in cultural meanings associated with physical symptoms and idioms of distress.

Methods:

Ethnic differences in risk factors and factor structures of PTSD symptoms were examined in 188 Alaskan Natives and 371 Euro-Americans exposed to the Exxon-Valdez oil spill in 1989.

Results:

High levels of social disruption were associated with PTSD one year after the oil spill in both ethnic groups. However, low family support, participation in spill clean-up activities, and a decline in subsistence activities were significantly associated with PTSD in Alaskan Natives, but not in Euro-Americans. Factor analysis of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule PTSD subscale revealed five factors for both ethnic groups. However, the items comprising these factors were dissimilar.

Conclusions:

These results suggest that social disruption is sufficiently traumatic to be associated with symptoms of post-traumatic stress, but that a diagnosis of PTSD must take into consideration local interpretations of these symptoms.

Keywords

disastersethnicityExxon Valdezpost-traumatic stress
Type
Special Reports
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 19 , Special Issue 1: Psychosocial Themes , March 2004 , pp. 102 - 112
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2004

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