LOS-ANGELES-COUNTY AFTER THE 1992 CIVIL-DISTURBANCES - DEGREE OF EXPOSURE AND IMPACT ON MENTAL-HEALTH

The impact of the 1992 Los Angeles (L.A.) civil disturbances on psycho social functioning was assessed as part of a larger project investigat ing 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 te lephone interview 6 to 8 months after the disturbances. Respondents' d egree of exposure to the disturbances, mental health impact of the dis turbances, and mental health effects of chronic versus acute exposure to violence were assessed. Consistent with hypotheses, the impact of t he disturbances was the worst in the South Central communities. Higher rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; both diagnostic level a nd subclinical symptomatology) were found among respondents who report ed 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 stre ssful events.