Twenty-Four Years of Social Science Research on the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill: Sociocultural and Psychosocial Impacts in a Commercial Fishing Community

Abstract

Our paper provides a comprehensive overview of research findings from a unique series of studies examining human impacts of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill (EVOS). Our focused on Cordova, Alaska—considered ‘ground zero’ for sociocultural and psychosocial impacts from this disaster. During the past 24 years, we used and developed a variety of theoretical and conceptual approaches to frame evolving issues and employed both quantitative and qualitative methodological designs. We used ecological-symbolic theory and the renewable resource community (RRC) concept to frame community, group, and individual responses to this environmental disaster. We also employed social capital theory, the Conservation of Resources (COR) stress model, and key concepts such as recreancy, collective stress, and secondary trauma to explain observed chronic impacts. Findings reveal sociocultural disruption and psychosocial stress and the critical role protracted litigation and prolonged ecological damage had for maintaining community and mental health problems for over two decades. Quantitative data are supported by rich, descriptive qualitative data to deepen the understanding of human impacts. Our discussion summarizes major findings on psychosocial stress and sociocultural disruptions. We note how disruption and stress changed over time, reaching their lowest levels five years after the resolution of litigation, but nonetheless still evident due to a lack of recovery of key ecological resources. Finally, we discuss how these findings can be applied to better understand and mitigate social impacts of future oil spill disasters.