TITLE:
Who Beliefs in Alternative Medicine?
AUTHORS:
Adrian Furnham, George Horne
KEYWORDS:
Efficacy, Sex, Religion, Politics, Optimism
JOURNAL NAME:
Health,
Vol.16 No.12,
December
23,
2024
ABSTRACT: This study examined individual correlates of beliefs in the efficacy of alternative and complementary medicine (CAM). In all, 2126 adults were tested, and the results showed six significant correlates, including sex, political ideology, religious beliefs, and self-esteem (SE). Strongest correlates were belief on Life after Death (r = 0.32), Religiousness (r = 0.28) and Optimism (r = 0.20). A regression that accounted for 17% of the variance indicated that females more than males; more religious rather than less religious, more politically conservative rather than liberal; more those who believed rather than did not believe in the afterlife; and those who rated themselves as more rather than less optimistic believe in the efficacy of CAM. Age, degree status, and SE were not significantly related to beliefs about CAM. Limitations are acknowledged.