title: Culture and sun exposure in immigrant East Asian women living in Australia.
abstract: In this qualitative study, researchers examined cultural and attitudinal factors that might be related to sun-exposure behaviors among East Asian women living in Australia. Researchers asked Chinese (n = 20) and Korean (n = 16) immigrant women who participated in a larger cross-sectional quantitative study of vitamin D blood levels to volunteer to participate in an in-depth interview in 2010. These women reported a number of cultural factors related to their attitudes and behaviors with regard to sun exposure. They expressed preference for fair skin, a tradition of covering skin when outdoors, and no sunbathing culture. They believed that fair skin was more beautiful than tanned skin. They reported that beauty was the reason for active avoidance of sunlight exposure. Although they reported knowledge of the need for sun avoidance due to skin cancer risk, few reported knowledge about the benefits of sun exposure for adequate vitamin D levels. These findings may provide some reasons for vitamin D deficiency previously reported in these populations. Thus, researchers recommend that these attitudes of excessive sun protection and limiting sun exposure be further investigated as they may have implications for planning and delivery of health promotion programs to this growing population of immigrants in Australia.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Science, University of Sydney, Lidcombe, Australia.
authors.forename: Haeyoung
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Fung Kuen
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Koo
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ke
authors.forename: Lindy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Clemson
authors.forename: Rosemary
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cant
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Fraser
authors.forename: Marcus J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Seibel
authors.forename: Marilyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mpofu
authors.forename: Rebecca S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: Kaye
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brock
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology*; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003469:Culture; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology; D005202:Asia, Eastern / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012880:Skin Pigmentation; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D