Dimensions of the shadow: Children of six nations respond to the nuclear threat

Abstract

Abstract This study was designed to assess reaction to the nuclear threat on the part of students in six countries using a common instrument, the Nuclear Threat Index (NTI). The NTI is designed to report on three aspects of reactions: cognitive, affective, and behavioral. The study showed that children in each of the six nations reported accurate, realistic knowledge about the effects of nuclear war and that many children reported experiencing negative emotional reactions when they thought about nuclear war. Few students in any country have discussed nuclear war often, engaged often in preventative or preparatory behaviors, or experienced upset stomachs or nightmares. Among the age and sex differences found that support earlier studies were the following: Younger students reported higher levels of general negative affect, more concern about powerlessness and security, more affective behavior, more preparation/prevention behavior, less cognitive behavior, and less school and church behavior than did older students. Females reported higher levels of general negative affect, lower levels of anger, lower frequencies of cognitive behavior, and higher frequencies of church and school behavior than did males. Comparative results by country are reported in four tables.