ASPO Abstracts
All those in favor say yay: predicting support for public health policies
Category: Behavioral Science & Health Communication
Conference Year: 2022
Abstract Body:
Purpose of the study: Given that health policies are a cancer preventive strategy, the main purpose of this study was to examine which factors, such as sociodemographic variables and cancer beliefs, are associated with support of health policies. Methods: The data were obtained from the Health Information National Trends Survey Cycle IV. Participants (N=3865) provided their support for nine policy questions using a 5-point scale: Strongly oppose to Strongly support. Five questions were tobacco-related (e.g., Tobacco products should not be advertised on social media), three alcohol-related (e.g., Requiring specific health warnings on alcohol containers?), and one nutrition-related (i.e., Junk food products, including candy, chips, soda, and flavored sports drinks, should not be advertised to children on social media). Composite scores were created for the alcohol and tobacco policy questions due to good reliability. Three linear regression models using survey weights were conducted in R, with the two composite scores and nutrition question as the outcome variables. Results: Being 55 or older was associated with stronger support of tobacco policies. Female respondents and those willing to change behavior if a genetic test suggested a high risk of cancer were supportive of all three types of health policies. Those with children and worried about getting cancer were supportive of tobacco and alcohol policies. Hispanic and other-race respondents were more supportive of alcohol policies. Black and other-race respondents were less supportive of the nutrition policy. Those who were between 35-54 years old were less supportive of alcohol policies. Binge drinkers were less supportive of tobacco and alcohol policies. Those who were politically conservative were less supportive of tobacco and nutrition policies. Those who were politically moderate were less supportive of tobacco policies. Current smokers were less supportive of tobacco policies. Those who believed there is not much to do to prevent cancer were less supportive of all three types of policies.Conclusions: There were several variables associated with support (or opposition) of cancer preventive health policies. Future research to better understand why some individuals oppose health policies should be done.
Keywords: public health policy; cancer prevention; cancer beliefs