From:       STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY

Contact:   Dan Klores Communications
                Bruce Bobbins / Adam Miller

               212-981-5239          212 -981-5190

 

 

                                                                                          FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MOST AMERICANS BELIEVE THE AVERAGE PERSON IS AT HIGH RISK TO DEVELOP DISEASES, BUT DON’T SEE THEMSELVES AMONG THIS GROUP, ACCORDING TO A STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY SURVEY
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QUARTERLY HEALTH PULSE OF AMERICA ALSO FINDS AMERICANS ARE MORE AFRAID OF BECOMING A TERROR VICTIM THAN SUCCUMBING TO WEST NILE VIRUS OR BIRD FLU

STONY BROOK, NY, July 13, 2006 – An overwhelming majority of Americans believe that the average person is at high risk of developing an array of diseases, including heart disease, high blood pressure, breast or prostate cancer, and diabetes, but they are less concerned about their own chances of developing any of these diseases, according to a national study conducted by Stony Brook University in New York.

The University’s quarterly “Health Pulse of America” also found that over 40 percent of Americans fear being the victim of a terrorist attack, more than those who worry about developing diabetes and significantly more than those who are afraid of catching West Nile virus or Avian or bird flu.

Among the major findings of the Health Pulse of America were:

  • Over 90 percent of men and women believe that the average American is at high or moderate risk of developing heart disease.  However, only 58 percent of men and 57 percent of women see themselves at high or moderate risk of developing this disease.
  • Even obese people think their chances of getting heart disease are lower than that of most Americans. Ninety-three percent of obese people believe that the average male faces a high or moderate risk of heart disease, and 80 percent see women at high or moderate risk for this disease.  But, only 75 percent see themselves at risk.  Similar discrepancies occur for high blood pressure and diabetes.
  • 43 percent of Americans are worried about becoming a victim of a terrorist attack, just about the same percentage of those who are concerned about developing high blood pressure.  In contrast, 38 percent fear developing diabetes, 35 percent are worried about getting West Nile Virus and 29 percent are concerned about developing Avian or bird flu.
  • Over 90 percent of men and women believe that the average American is at high or moderate risk of developing high blood pressure.  However, only 63 percent of men and 58 percent of women see themselves at high or moderate risk of developing high blood pressure.
  • 80 percent of men and 90 percent of women believe that the average American is at high or moderate risk of developing prostate or breast cancer.  Conversely, only 42 percent of men and 45 percent of women believe that they are at high or moderate risk of getting these diseases.
  • A majority (52%) of women know that heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States, but men have not gotten this message. Only 39 percent of men know that heart disease is the major cause of death among women. 
  • A third of men erroneously think that breast cancer is the major killer of women, although it now ranks third, lagging behind heart disease and lung cancer.  Yet, nearly 30 percent of women also see breast cancer as the number one causes of death among women. 
  • Very few men and women (5%, 6%, respectively) list lung cancer as a major killer even though roughly twice as many women die each year from lung cancer than breast cancer.

The survey was conducted between May 22nd and July 2nd  by the Stony Brook University Center for Survey Research.  737 adults from across the country were interviewed, based on a RDD sample of telephone numbers drawn from blocks with at least one listed residential number. Up to seven contact attempts were made at each selected household, and individuals were selected at random within households. Findings were weighted using post-stratification weights for age, gender, and census region in accordance with 2005 Census statistics.  The margin of error is plus/minus 3.6 percentage points.

(For a complete copy of the survey, please call Bruce Bobbins or Adam Miller at Dan Klores Communications, 212-685-4300).

 



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