Promoting healthier behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs toward sun exposure in parents of young children.
The present study examined the impact of a conceptually driven intervention designed to increase skin cancer knowledge and promote healthier, "sun-safe" attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors about sun exposure in mothers of children ages 6 months to 10 years old. Participants (N = 55) were assigned to a comprehensive prevention program (CPP), information-only condition (IOC), or a no-information control group (NIC). An assessment battery measuring skin cancer knowledge, sun-safe behaviors, and sun exposure attitudes and beliefs was administered at baseline, 2 weeks postintervention, and 12 weeks postintervention. Consistent with prediction, mothers in the CPP and IOC groups showed significant increases in skin cancer knowledge; however, only those in the CPP condition showed increases in sun-safe behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs that were maintained at the 12-week follow-up. Also, results provide support for the influence of perceived severity, self-efficacy, response-efficacy, and perceived barriers on sun-safe behaviors.
Rodrigue
J R
JR
Center for Pediatric Psychology and Family Studies, University of Florida Health Science Center 32610-0165, USA.
D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006370:Heliotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008423:Maternal Age; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects*