Testing an extended theory of planned behaviour to predict young people's sun safety in a high risk area.
OBJECTIVE
The present research examined the sun protection intentions and behaviours of young people in a high risk skin cancer area using an extended theory of planned behaviour (TPB) incorporating additional social influences of group and image norms.


METHODS
The study employed a prospective design to examine young people's sun protection intentions and behaviour.


METHODS
Participants (N=1,134), aged 12-20 years, were students (school, university, TAFE) and young employees living in Queensland, Australia. Participants completed a questionnaire assessing the TPB predictors (attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioural control) and additional social influences (group norm, image norm) of sun protection intentions. Two weeks later, participants (N=734) reported their sun protection behaviour for the previous fortnight.


RESULTS
Results revealed that the TPB variables of attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control and the additional social influence variable of group norms, but not image norms, emerged as significant predictors of intentions to engage in sun protection. The extended TPB variables accounted for 36% of the variance in intentions. For behaviour, the extended TPB variables accounted for 27% of the variance with both intention and, unexpectedly, group norm as the significant direct predictors of sun protective behaviours.


CONCLUSIONS
Results of this study provide support for the application of the TPB in the sun safety context and highlight the importance of considering the influence of group norms in the development of future interventions to increase young people's sun protection intentions and behaviour.
White
Katherine M
KM
School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. km.white@qut.edu.au
Robinson
Natalie G
NG
Young
Ross McD
RM
Anderson
Peter J
PJ
Hyde
Melissa K
MK
Greenbank
Susan
S
Rolfe
Toni
T
Keane
Julie
J
Vardon
Paul
P
Baskerville
Debra
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D002648:Child; D002980:Climate; D005260:Female; D006370:Heliotherapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011582:Psychological Theory; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012449:Safety; D012919:Social Behavior; D012933:Social Identification; D013471:Sunburn / Q000517:prevention & control*