Effects of distance, age and sex upon attitudes toward nuclear power plants: an empirical study.

Several aspects regarding nuclear power plants and works of the chemical industry were assessed by self-report inventories. The inventories included items related to attitudes and mood. Subjects (N = 228) were divided according to living distance to a nuclear power plant (up to 5 km, 5-10 km, 10-15 km), age (18-39 versus 40-59 years) and sex. Results demonstrate different risk perception referring to nuclear power plants and works of the chemical industry. Women and older persons reported more negative attitudes. In addition, the results confirm the assumption of an inverted U-shaped relationship between strength of negative attitudes toward nuclear power plants and distance of dwelling to the plant. The results are best explained by psychobiological models of stress.