Indoor tanning and problem behavior.
OBJECTIVE
The authors examined factors predicting college students' use of tanning beds.


METHODS
Undergraduate students (N = 745) at a large Northeastern university participated in the study by answering a survey measuring tanning behavior and other psychosocial variables, including sensation seeking, self-esteem, tanning image beliefs, and friends' tanning bed use.


RESULTS
All 3 systems from problem behavior theory predicted past tanning bed use and intention to use tanning beds. The authors observed a positive association between sensation seeking and intention to use tanning beds. Tanning image beliefs were positively associated with both past tanning behavior and intention to use tanning beds.


CONCLUSIONS
Interventions focusing on friend and acquaintance social network influences may be more effective than health-risk campaigns in reducing tanning bed use.
Bagdasarov
Zhanna
Z
Department of Communication, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA. zbagdasa@rci.rutgers.edu
Banerjee
Smita
S
Greene
Kathryn
K
Campo
Shelly
S
D000328:Adult; D001505:Beauty Culture; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012649:Self Concept; D012931:Social Environment; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014495:Universities