title: A psychosocial model of sun protection and sunbathing in young women: the impact of health beliefs, attitudes, norms, and self-efficacy for sun protection.
abstract: A psychosocial model of sun protection and sunbathing as distinct behaviors was developed on 202 young Caucasian women and replicated in an independent sample (n = 207). Proximal outcomes were intention to sun protect and intention to sunbathe; distal outcomes included sun protection and sunbathing behavior measured 5 months later. Objective risk for skin cancer plus 4 classes of psychosocial variables (sun-protective health beliefs, self-efficacy for sun protection, attitudes toward sunbathing, and norms for sunbathing and sun protection) served as predictors. Sun-protective norms and self-efficacy for sun protection predicted only intention to sun protect; sunbathing norms predicted only intention to sunbathe. Susceptibility and advantages of tanning predicted both intention constructs, which, in turn, predicted behavior. These findings distinguish sun protection from sunbathing and provide a basis for intervention design.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, USA. JacksonKM@missouri.edu
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Aiken
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012307:Risk Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013471:Sunburn / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D013473:Sunscreening Agents