title: Negative appearance evaluation is associated with skin cancer risk behaviors among American men and women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The current study aimed to examine links between appearance evaluation and skin cancer risk behaviors in men and women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data (N = 1,535; men, n = 873; women, n = 662) were extracted from Wave 4 of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, a nationally representative, longitudinal dataset of U.S. adolescents and young adults.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Skin cancer risk (i.e., number of hours spent outside for those with a history of severe sunburn and who were unlikely to use sunscreen) was significantly associated with participant gender, appearance evaluation, and their interaction. Both men and women who negatively evaluated their appearance were at significantly increased skin cancer risk, and this was particularly true for men.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Negative appearance evaluation appears to be a correlate of engaging in behaviors that place individuals at risk of developing skin cancer. Future research may benefit from skin cancer prevention interventions that directly address appearance-based evaluations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital.
authors.forename: Aaron J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Blashill
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Sport and Exercise, Staffordshire University.
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Manchester Metropolitan University.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grogan
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Sport and Exercise, Staffordshire University.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Clark-Carter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012737:Sex Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D013471:Sunburn; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D013473:Sunscreening Agents