A parallel case study design was used to investigate psychosocial effe
cts in populations exposed to solid waste facilities. Psychosocial eff
ects were defined as a complex of distress, dysfunction and disability
, manifested in a range of psychological, social and behavioural outco
mes, as a consequence of actual or perceived environmental contaminati
on. This paper presents the results of logistic regression analyses de
signed to identify determinants of psychosocial effects of exposure. T
he data come from an epidemiologic survey of residents (N = 696) livin
g within a prescribed radius from each of three solid waste facilities
in southern Ontario. The analytical model has three main components:
external variables (e.g. individual and exposure-related variables); m
ediating variables (e.g. social network membership and involvement, ge
neral health status measures); and outcome variables (e.g. concern, ef
fects and actions). Results for a series of site specific analyses sho
w that outcome measures can be successfully explained by a combination
of external and mediating factors. In general, variables from each of
the three main components enter the concern-related models while the
action models are clearly dominated by social network variables. Analy
ses using data from all three sites indicate the explanatory power of
site-related characteristics. However, given the number and diversity
of variables in the models, there is no support for a simple cause and
effect relationship. The implication is that strategies aimed to addr
ess and alleviate psychosocial effects need to be specific to the char
acteristics of the populations in particular settings.