PUBLIC REACTIONS IN NORWAY TO RADIOACTIVE FALLOUT

Surveys carried out on representative samples of the adult Norwegian p opulation in May/June 1986 and June 1993 have shed light on psychologi cal responses to the Chernobyl disaster from a distant population. The data from 1986 confirm the impression from the first weeks following the disaster of an information crisis with a public discontented with the information and guidance provided by the authorities. Sex, age, ed ucational level, general threat perception and previous mental health were factors associated both with information and reaction variables a nd may help to identify groups with characteristic response patterns. A consistent finding has been the stronger reactions in women. The dev elopment from 1986 to 1993 is discussed: the findings are discussed in the context of a coping model for dealing with stressful events.