title: Cognitive rationalizations for tanning-bed use: a preliminary exploration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine construct and predictive utility of an adapted cognitive rationalization scale for tanning-bed use.
  
  
  METHODS
  Current/former tanning-bedusing undergraduate students (N = 216; 87.6% females; 78.4% white) at a large northeastern university participated in a survey. A cognitive rationalization for tanning-bed use scale was adapted. Standardized self-report measures of past tanning-bed use, advantages of tanning, perceived vulnerability to photoaging, tanning-bed use dependence, and tanning-bed use intention were also administered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cognitive rationalization scale exhibited strong construct and predictive validity. Current tanners and tanning-bed-use-dependent participants endorsed rationalizations more strongly than did former tanners and not-tanning-bed-use-dependent participants respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings indicate that cognitive rationalizations help explain discrepancy between inconsistent cognitions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA. banerjes@mskcc.org
authors.forename: Smita C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hay
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Greene
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011908:Rationalization; D055108:Sunbathing / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult