Measuring activism regarding the nuclear arms race

HIV Activist Identity, Commitment, and Orientation Scale (HAICOS): Psychometric Evaluation to Assess Clinician's Propensity Towards HIV Activism in Malaysia

HIV activism has a long history of advancing HIV treatment and is critical in dismantling HIV-related stigma. This study evaluated the psychometric quality of the HIV Activist Identity, Commitment, and Orientation Scale (HAICOS) to assess clinicians' propensity towards HIV activism in Malaysia. From November 2022 to March 2023, 74 general practitioners and primary care physicians in Malaysia participated in the study. The exploratory factor analysis (EFA) extracted an internally consistent three-factor solution with 13 items: (1) HIV activist identity and commitment, orientation towards (2) day-to-day, and (3) structural activism. The Cronbach's alpha value was 0.91, and intra-class correlation coefficient for test-retest reliability was 0.86. Stigma-related (prejudice and discrimination intent) and clinical practice (comfort in performing clinical tasks with key populations and knowledge about HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis) measures supported the construct validity of the scale. The study provided concise, structurally valid, and reliable measures to evaluate HIV activism among clinicians.

War Myths

This article critically explores three beliefs or myths about war. (1) There have always been wars because war is part of human nature. (2) Decent people are basically peaceful and seek to avoid war because it is evil. (3) War is a male institution that carries no appeal for women. Each myth is explored in the following ways: The existence of the myth is documented; its importance and implications are discussed; the scientific and theoretical foundations of the myth are described; the foundations of the myth are critically challenged; and new knowledge about the belief is discussed in light of its importance and its relevance for our current nuclear reality. Because these myths reflect a belief system and are ultimately linked to attitudes and behavior, they can operate in the society to perpetuate warfare. By better understanding the myths about war we will be better able to secure a peaceful future.

Assessment of nuclear anxiety among American students: stability over time, secular trends, and emotional correlates

Studies of reactions and attitudes toward nuclear war have progressed from the use of anecdotal evidence to multi-item psychological measures. Additional psychometric data and substantive results of the Nuclear Attitudes Questionnaire (NAQ; Newcomb, 1986) are reported here. Data from three independent samples of students from the United States collected in 1984, 1986, and 1987 were compared and contrasted. The 1986 data were obtained immediately following the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident. Test-retest reliability of the NAQ items and subscales was quite high and comparable among samples and established the across-time stability of the measure. There were several secular trends across years on items and subscales, indicating some increased concern about nuclear power (particularly in 1986), but also a general increase in nuclear concerns, fears, and anxiety. Anticipated sex differences were found on many of the NAQ items and subscales. Correlations between the NAQ subscales and the nine SCL-90-R scales (Derogatis, 1977) were consistent for the 1986 and 1987 samples. In latent variable analyses, a general factor of Emotional Distress was significantly correlated with a general factor of Nuclear Anxiety, as well as specifically with nuclear concern and fear for the future.

Elderhostelers and college women coping with nuclear threat: a comparative study of thoughts and actions about Nuclear War

To relate experiences to thoughts and actions about the nuclear predicament, 49 elderhostelers and 54 college women were compared on their responses to the Nuclear Activism Questionnaire and scores on five areas of the Survey of Feelings about Nuclear War. Tests were group-administered in 30 min. to 49 late adults and 54 young adult women who volunteered to participate and responded anonymously. Analysis showed a significant difference in the mean activism scores of the two groups; elderhostelers were significantly more antinuclear than the young adults. For the two samples, among many similarities on the survey was one striking contrast: if a difference in the tendency to deny threat to self and to project threat on others is indicative of defensiveness, then these elderhostelers were far less defensive than the young adults. From clues about coping strategies noted here, we recommend further inquiry about the paradigm, belief, or world view directing the mode of thought that accounts for activism scores, with larger groups of subjects.