Private Responses and Individual Action

Abstract

In 1992, chronic environmental lead contamination became an issue in the mining community of Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia. This article is based on a study completed between 1992 and 1996, which explored the nature of community responses, including coping responses, effects on health and well-being, and factors mediating the community response process. Community responses were characterized by private rather than public responses, and individual rather than collective actions. Stigma, relationships between mining companies and the community, and social undermining helped to shape the private nature of responses. The individual nature of responses was found to be significantly affected by cognitive responses, including perceived relevance, acceptance, social beliefs about the lead contamination, and attribution of responsibility; cultural factors; and interventions. The results indicate that to assist communities faced with such hazards, intervention programs must move beyond an individual focus and address social responses as well as the contamination itself.