Indoor tanning device use among male high school students in the United States.
OBJECTIVE
Indoor tanning is a risk factor for developing melanoma. Although in 2009, 6.7% of male high school students reported using an indoor tanning device, compared with 25.4% of female students (Eaton DK, Kann L, Kinchen S, et al, MMWR Surveill Summ 2010;59:1-142), it is also less well characterized in male than in female adolescents.


METHODS
The associations between appearance-related and other health-related behaviors with indoor tanning device use were examined among male high school students in the United States, using the 2009 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey.


RESULTS
Adjusted analysis of cross-sectional data showed that indoor tanning device use was positively associated with ever having taken steroids without a doctor's prescription, unhealthy weight control practices, binge drinking, eating fruits and vegetables five or more times per day, playing on at least one sports team, and attempted suicide.


CONCLUSIONS
Understanding the relationship between indoor tanning device use and appearance-related and other health-related behaviors is useful in designing risk reduction interventions for skin cancer prevention.
Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway North East, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA.
Justin
J
Miyamoto
Zahava
Z
Berkowitz
Sherry Everett
SE
Jones
Mona
M
Saraiya
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D001505:Beauty Culture / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D055108:Sunbathing; D014481:United States