Public Attitudes Toward Animal Research: Some International Comparisons

Evaluates public opinion in fifteen countries regarding the use of animals for scientific research; analysis includes differences by country, gender, and degree of knowledge about science.

Greatest opposition to animal research found in France, where 68% either strongly disagreed or disagreed with it.

In U.S., both opposition and support for animal research were of a moderate nature.

In each of the 15 countries a greater percentage of women than men were opposed to animal research.

The largest gender difference occurred in the Netherlands where 32% of men and 58% of women indicated that they were opposed to animal research. The smallest gender difference occurred in the former West Germany where both men (66%) and women (67%) were opposed to animal research. In the United States, over 50% of women and only about 30% of men were opposed to animal research.

A significant relationship exists between scientific knowledge and attitudes toward animal research in all but France and the United States.

Concern for environmental issues is significantly related to attitudes toward animal research in eleven of the nations.

Some linkage between a nation’s level of industrialization and urbanization and attitudes toward animal research. Within the European Community, the two least industrialized and urban countries had the lowest level of opposition to animal research.