Psychological Symptoms As Related to Cognitive Appraisals and Demographic Differences Among Information Seekers in the Aftermath of Technological Disaster at Three Mile Island

Psychological symptoms were found to be associated with a number of cognitive appraisal and demographic variables but predicted primarily by perceived lack of control among information seekers in the aftermath of the Three Mile Island accident. Cognitive appraisal variables were found to be interrelated in a way which suggests that appraisal of control and faith in experts mediate between perceived environmental threat and psychological symptoms among information seekers in the aftermath of technological disaster. Demographic variables such as education and evacuation status are viewed as mediators between environmental circumstances and cognitive appraisals.