Nuclear Fears and Concerns among College Students: A Cross-National Study of Attitudes

Rabow, J., Hernandez, A. C., & Newcombe, M. D. (1990). Nuclear fears and concerns among college students: A cross-national study of attitudes.. Political Psychology, 11, 4, 681-698.

Assessed the quality and extent of nuclear fears and beliefs among 288 college students (48% male) from the US, UK, and Sweden, using the Nuclear Attitudes Questionnaire (NAQ) developed by M. D. Newcomb (see PA, Vols 73:21805 and 75:35740). Confirmatory factor analyses revealed that the factor structure was similar across the 3 student groups. Mean differences were found on the NAQ scales by sex and nation. Women indicated more nuclear concern, more fear for the future, less denial, less nuclear support, and more nuclear fear than did men. Swedish Ss expressed less nuclear concern and fear for the future than did their counterparts. Nuclear denial was not evident in the 3 samples. Interaction effects between sex and nationality were also found. The NAQ scales were significantly correlated with a measure of nuclear salience.

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