Table 3 Construct validity in the student sample

Sex

 Male

2.78

1.88

2.60

1.55

2.26

2.47

 Female

2.84

1.71

2.64

1.41

1.85

2.01

 t-test (p value)

-0.60 (.552)

2.02 (.044)

-0.38 (.704)

2.31 (.022)

4.51 (<.001)

3.58 (<.001)

Age

 20-29 years

2.82

1.82

2.72

1.47

1.98

2.20

 30+ years

2.82

1.62

2.42

1.39

1.93

2.02

 t-test (p value)

-0.01 (.992)

2.68 (.008)

3.10 (.002)

1.51 (.132)

0.58 (.561)

1.49 (.137)

Subject studied

 Life sciences/medical

2.74

1.74

2.46

1.40

1.95

1.11

 Other

2.89

1.77

2.75

1.49

1.98

1.18

 t-test (p value)

-1.55 (.121)

-0.41 (.683)

-3.08 (.002)

-1.82 (.069)

0.36 (.716)

-0.49 (.624)

Belief that lifestyle is cause

 No

2.83

1.65

2.62

1.45

2.00

2.12

 Yes

2.81

1.95

2.64

1.45

1.90

2.17

 t-test (p value)

0.22 (.826)

-3.76 (<.001)

-0.20 (.838)

-0.14 (.886)

1.40 (.163)

-0.40 (.692)

Ever been around a person with cancer

 Yes

2.81

1.71

2.59

1.43

1.94

2.13

 No

2.88

2.00

2.85

1.56

2.08

2.23

 t-test (p value)

-.58 (.563)

-2.81 (.005)

-2.15 (.032)

-1.91 (.057)

1.40 (.163)

-0.66 (.511)

Social desirability

 Low score (0–5)

2.83

1.79

2.66

1.50

2.01

2.26

 High score (6–10)

2.81

1.73

2.59

1.40

1.91

2.01

 t-test (p value)

0.22 (.827)

0.85 (.397)

0.83 (.409)

2.09 (.037)

1.43 (.154)

2.22 (.027)