Sun Safety Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors Among Beachgoing Adolescents

Merten, Julie Williams; Higgins, Sue; Rowan, Alan; Pragle, Aimee

doi:10.1080/19325037.2013.852997

Cited by 9 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…52–55 Therefore, protective practices are critical, such as reducing exposure to UVR, avoiding sunburn, and using sunscreen. 56–58 Young women are more likely than young men to expose themselves to UVR, 59–61 although they are more likely to use sunscreen than are young men. 59,62 The extent to which these findings generalize to sexual minorities is unknown.…”

Section: Ultraviolet Radiation (Uvr)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Disparities by Sexual Orientation in Frequent Engagement in Cancer-Related Risk Behaviors: A 12-Year Follow-Up

Rosario

Wypij

et al. 2016

Am J Public Health

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Objectives We examined sexual-orientation disparities in frequent engagement in cancer-related risk indicators of tobacco, alcohol, diet and physical activity, ultraviolet radiation, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Methods We used longitudinal data from the national Growing Up Today Study (1999–2010). Of the analytic sample (N|=|9958), 1.8% were lesbian or gay (LG), 1.6% bisexual (BI), 12.1% mostly heterosexual (MH), and 84.5% completely heterosexual (CH). Results More sexual minorities (LGs, BIs, and MHs) than CHs frequently engaged in multiple cancer-related risk behaviors (33%, 29%, 28%, and 19%, respectively). Sexual-minority young women, especially BI and MH, reported more frequent engagement over time in substance use and diet and physical activity risk than CH women. More young gay than CH men frequently engaged over time in vomiting for weight control (odds ratio [OR]|=|3.2; 95% confidence interval [CI]|=|1.1, 9.4), being physically inactive (OR|=|1.7; 95% CI|=|1.2, 2.4), and using tanning booths (OR|=|4.7; 95% CI|=|3.0, 7.4), and had a higher prevalence of ever having an STI (OR|=|3.5; 95% CI|=|2.0, 6.4). Individual analyses were generally comparable to the group-level analyses. Conclusions Young sexual minorities are at risk for cancer through frequent exposure to cancer-related risk behaviors over time. Long-term, longitudinal studies and surveillance data are essential and warranted to track frequent engagement in the risk behaviors and cancer-related morbidity and mortality.

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Section: Ultraviolet Radiation (Uvr)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Disparities by Sexual Orientation in Frequent Engagement in Cancer-Related Risk Behaviors: A 12-Year Follow-Up

Rosario

Wypij

et al. 2016

Am J Public Health

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“…Previous investigations have noted that children and adolescents are generally not well-informed about sun exposure and have negative attitudes towards protection behaviors. Recently, a 2014 study by Merten et al (2014) surveyed 423 adolescents in Florida and found that 63% did not know the peak hours of strongest UVR. Eighty percent of the population believed that a suntan looked healthy despite 67% thinking that they were at risk of developing skin cancer.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Eighty percent of the population believed that a suntan looked healthy despite 67% thinking that they were at risk of developing skin cancer. Female adolescents were twice as likely to wear sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) below 15 and were 5 times as likely as males to intentionally suntan and use tan enhancers (Merten et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A characterization of sun protection attitudes and behaviors among children and adolescents in the United States

Patel

Zaslow

Wren

et al. 2019

Preventive Medicine Reports

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Children and adolescents may be vulnerable to increased ultraviolet radiation exposure and greater risk for subsequent sun-related pathologies. This study examined the demographic, geographic, and phenotypic factors influencing sun exposure and protective behaviors among children and adolescents living in the United States. A cross-sectional survey on perceived sun exposure and protective behaviors was administered at three sports medicine clinics in California, Colorado, and Hawaii. Responses were measured with a 5-item frequency scale: Never, Rarely (25% of the time or less), Sometimes (50% of the time), Often (75% of the time or more), and Always. Sun protective behavior was examined using univariate and multivariate analyses. In total, 860 surveys were collected (52% female, 48% male; mean age 12.7 years). Females reported significantly greater frequency of using sunscreen (p = 0.001), staying in the shade or using an umbrella while in the sun (p = 0.004), and tanning (p < 0.001). Age was inversely associated with sunscreen use frequency (p < 0.001); the percentage of participants who reported always wearing sunscreen decreased as age increased. Participants in Hawaii reported using sunscreen less frequently than those in California and Colorado (p < 0.001). These results identify high-risk populations such as males, older adolescents, and Hawaii's youth who may not be practicing frequent sun protective behaviors. While it is important for youth to stay active, they must also be reminded to adopt protective behaviors while outdoors to prevent unnecessary sun damage and lower the risk of sun exposure complications.

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“…In an effort to reduce the impost on the country’s health system the Australian government has financed two nationwide skin-protective ‘Sun-Smart’ public health campaigns (11,13). Although these campaigns have been successful in heightening awareness of cancer risk factors in the adult population, sunbathing remains a popular pastime among female adolescents (1,7,14 –18).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Melanomas account for 14%–23% of all skin cancers diagnosed in Australian adolescents aged 15–19 years (21,22). While adolescents are one of the better-informed Australian age cohorts of the dangers of UVR exposure (23,24), this knowledge has not necessarily translated into their adoption of skin-protective measures (17,25). Indeed, some studies have reported that not only are adolescents resistant to health education messages (4,26), they are less likely to adopt skin-protective measures than any other age cohort (15,27).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Melanoma risk: adolescent females’ perspectives on skin protection pre/post-viewing a ultraviolet photoaged photograph of their own facial sun damage

2018

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Suntanning increases skin cancer risk and prematurely ages skin. Photoageing photography is an effective means of increasing adult ultraviolet radiation (UVR) awareness and skin-protection practices. While adults' largely positive suntanning-deterrence responses to photoageing photography are well-documented, comparatively little is known about the deterrence effectiveness of photoageing photography with adolescents. To help fill this knowledge gap, in-depth interviews were collected from 10 adolescent females and were subsequently subjected to interpretive phenomenological analysis. The emergent central theme - Having a tan and looking good in the short-term is okay, however, in the longer-term you can end up looking far worse… but still a tan is worth it - and its component subthemes reveal that the adolescent female's desire for a suntan is largely appearance driven. While photoaged photography is effective in increasing their awareness of the skin damage that UVR exposure causes, it does not alter their suntanning intentions. The analysis also revealed that one of the major barriers to adolescent females' adoption of skin-protective behaviours is their belief in their own invincibility. Hence, skin-protection interventions that lessen the aura of invincibility around adolescent females' understanding of their risk for developing skin cancers are vital to reducing the incidence of malignant melanoma.

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Sun Safety Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors Among Beachgoing Adolescents

Cited by 9 publications

References 13 publications

Disparities by Sexual Orientation in Frequent Engagement in Cancer-Related Risk Behaviors: A 12-Year Follow-Up

Disparities by Sexual Orientation in Frequent Engagement in Cancer-Related Risk Behaviors: A 12-Year Follow-Up

A characterization of sun protection attitudes and behaviors among children and adolescents in the United States

Melanoma risk: adolescent females’ perspectives on skin protection pre/post-viewing a ultraviolet photoaged photograph of their own facial sun damage

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