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The present study searches for regularities in the dimensions of beliefs and feelings for three major diseases. The data were derived from a probability sample of 436 adults who had indicated their perceptions concerning poliomyelitis, cancer, and mental illness on 16 modified semantic differential scales. For each disease these responses were factor analyzed and rotated to produce an orthogonal varimax solution. Factors labeled Personal Involvement, Human Mastery, and Social Acceptability emerged repeatedly. Similarities and differences among the factor solutions obtained for the diseases studied are discussed along with their limitations and implications.
Jenkins et al. (Sun,) studied this question.