[Pil-pc-oceania] Global warming a worry unless swimming but killer bees the worse

[RussGrayson]

National Fear Survey results
Source: ABC Online

Science Week 2007 is over and the results of the National Project, the
National Fear Survey are in! There were 6639 individual survey registrations
up until the end of Science Week (18-26 August 2007). In terms of our
general anxiety, 42% of respondents said they or someone in their immediate
family suffers from anxiety or phobias, 29% regularly watch scary videos and
29% have trouble sleeping. On the more relaxed side, 61% take regular
exercise and 12% regularly meditate.
And our biggest fear is...

 
Sharks
Duh da duh da...Yes, it¹s Jaws! Fear of sharks was the biggest fear
registered in the survey (part 2, specific fears). Should we be worried? In
the last 20 years there has been on average 1.3 fatal shark attacks per year
in Australia (NSW government website). That¹s one-third as many people as
those killed by bee stings each year, according to the Australian Bureau of
Statistics!

In terms of overall fears (moderately scared, very scared or wobbling like
jelly), fear of sharks is closely followed by fear of snakes and fear of
heights. Heights had the most people wobbling like jelly (highest number of
Œwobbling like jelly¹ ratings), followed by sharks and snakes.

The fear that bothers us least as individuals is the fear of blood. Other
fears that score low are dogs, disease and dentists.
National Fear Survey: Specific fears

In differentiating between the sexes, the big news is ... there isn¹t any
difference. Males and females are equally afraid of sharks, heights and
snakes in that order.

In terms of age, kids aged under 10s¹ worst fear are snakes, while the
tweens, 10-15s, pumped for sharks as the scariest personal fear. For all of
those over the giddy age of 16, fear of heights causes the most wobblies,
while all age groups laugh in the face of exposure to bloody knees (though
the image used in the survey may have something to do with this!). Over 60s
show little fear of death or surgery in comparison to other age groups, but
admit that sharks and snakes give them the willies, too.

Surprisingly, people who identified themselves as religious (39% of
respondents) rated death, natural disasters and ghosts as more scary than
those participants who are not religious.
Terrified of climate change?

Our biggest global concern (part four of the survey) is the environment,
closely followed by climate change. The third biggest global worry is
cancer. Next comes war and drought followed by world poverty. Terrorism
rated sixth in terms of world concerns with one-third as many registered
concerns as climate change and the environment combined.

Malaria and volcanoes were the two least cited concerns.

There was little difference in the global concerns of those in rural,
coastal or urban areas. By far the biggest concerns for all groups are
climate change and the environment, and urban-dwellers are just as concerned
as those in the bush about bushfire and drought.
National Fear Survey: World concerns

Losing it
Our most frequent day-to-day concern (part three of the survey) is losing
control, followed by speaking in front of strangers. Other frequent concerns
included encountering pest animals, doing exams, and being out in strong
winds!

Things that rarely if ever cause us concern are texting, standing on an
escalator, and standing in a queue.

Generally, people who regularly watch scary videos recorded more frequent
anxieties than those who don¹t, as did those survey respondents who took
(non-prescription) drugs. Horror film habitués were four times more likely
to be constantly concerned about leaving the house, and 1.5 times more
likely to be concerned about getting to sleep.

Another interesting result was that people who said they did regular
exercise were fractionally more worried about having a heart attack or brain
tumour than those who didn¹t. Those few who admitted to heavy drinking were
almost half as likely as teetotallers to be concerned about heart attack or
brain tumour, but equally likely to be constantly or often concerned about
disease.

Common concerns by age
One in five under 10s are often concerned about speaking in front of
strangers, while in the older age groups only one in eight people cited this
concern. Of the younger age groups, fewer 10-15s worried about
school-related concerns, such as going to school, waking up late, or getting
homework in on time, in comparison with the under 10s. 20% of those under 10
were constantly concerned about exams, as compared to only 10% of the 10-15
age group.

Under 10s were also more likely to worry about making mistakes in front of
people than other age groups. There was little difference within age groups
and little concern about texting or using the phone.

One in five 10-15s worried about losing control, while most other age groups
were less concerned about this. Over 60s worried least about losing control.
Social butterflies
  
Despite citing speaking in front of people as our second biggest day-to-day
concern, we¹re a population of social butterflies according to our social
anxiety quiz (which, like the rest of the survey, is a bit of fun in terms
of rigid scientific accuracy ­this is the web!).

The results were:

    * 3% of respondents were Little miss shy
    * 45% of respondents had to Brush up on their social skills
    * 52% of respondents were Social butterflies

Strength and support
We get most of our support in facing our fears from our family and friends,
followed by our partners. Few respondents turn to support groups or
professional counselling.
National Fear Survey: Support

Some of our biggest strengths in the face of fear were thinking clearly and
strength of will.

Other strengths not listed in the survey which are frequently mentioned by
respondents include faith, belief in a higher power or prayer, and scream
therapy. Other strengths in the face of fear were undertaking various
exercises, including running and self-defence, love from others, laughing
and self belief.

What does it all mean?
Don¹t panic! The results of the National Fear Survey give an indication of
our fear and anxieties, but they have not been tested for statistical
significance in the way that rigorous scientific investigations are. Also,
the uncontrollable nature of the test environment ­ over the internet ­
makes it easy for people to cheat and lie, meaning that we have to take
these results with a grain of salt. Still, next time you are swimming, don¹t
lose control if you see a dark shape below you ‹ think instead about those
worrying killer bees!