title: [Self-assessment of vulnerability to illness by the Austrian population].
abstract: Results of a Cross-Sectional Study in 1995: The self-perceived threat of cancer, myocardial infarction, stroke, traffic accidents, diabetes mellitus, AIDS, Alzheimer's Disease and drug abuse was investigated in a survey among a representative sample of Austrians (aged > or = 15 years) in 1995. The most feared disease was cancer (41%), followed by traffic accidents (38%) and myocardial infarction (36%). The disease feared least was drug abuse (6%). Females feared cancer, stroke, diabetes mellitus and Alzheimer's disease significantly more than males. A cluster analysis reveals that respondents who perceive a higher threat by the diseases have low levels of education and live in rural areas. The age distribution of persons who responded with "very threatening" corresponds well with the age-specific prevalence of the disease. Smoking habits, alcohol consumption and body-mass index have no influence on the self-perceived threat of the investigated diseases.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Epidemiologie, Universität Wien.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Haidinger
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Waldhör
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Janda
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pötter
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vutuc
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
vernacular_title: Die Selbsteinschätzung der Bedrohtheit durch Krankheiten in der österreichischen Bevölkerung.