MichiganRadio

U of M Study: Political Beliefs & Medical Research ANN ARBOR, MI (Michigan Radio) -

New University of Michigan research suggests a person's support for medical research depends on their political beliefs.

Researchers found Republicans and Democrats tend to support research equally. But Republicans are less likely to support research into an illness linked to a social cause, like poverty. Researchers found social factors increased Democrat support.

"On average, Republicans tend to be more into personal responsibility, and pulling yourself up by your bootstraps, than Democrats," says Peter Ubel, the director of the U-M Center for Behavioral and Decision Sciences in Medicine, "And when you hear about a genetic cause, well you know, you can't pull yourself up by your genetic bootstraps, right?"

Ubel says the study shows its important to explain the significance of research to keep support for funding.

The study will appear in the December issue of the American Journal of Public Health. © Copyright 2012, Michigan Radio