Mutually dependent health beliefs associated with breast self-examination in British female university students.

Objective: Whereas research suggests young women's beliefs about breast cancer (susceptibility/severity) and its early detection (barriers/benefits) reliably distinguish breast self-examiners from nonexaminers, this study assessed whether these impressions are interreliant, especially in the context of familial risk.

Participants: The sample comprised over 200 female undergraduates from a university in England, United Kingdom.

Methods: Participants completed a self-administered survey on their attitudes concerning breast cancer and early detection.