Teen Daughters and Their Mothers in Conversation: Identifying Opportunities for Enhancing Awareness of Risky Tanning Behaviors.
The incidence of melanoma has been increasing dramatically among teenage and young adult women over the past several decades. Despite a causal link between ultraviolet light exposure and melanoma, a significant proportion of young women intentionally tan. Furthermore, we know very little about the family's role in melanoma-related risk practices.



This study examined 22 interviews of adolescent girls and their mothers discussing topics related to sun protection and tanning behavior.



Qualitative analysis elicited four primary themes: (1) high rates of prior discussion about indoor tanning; (2) discussion of other risky behaviors that are considered more important than tanning; (3) a desire for increased knowledge of risky tanning behavior; and (4) change in tanning behavior with relevant life experience.



Results emphasize the value of educational interventions designed to raise melanoma-related risk awareness and suggest the potential benefit of improving knowledge maintenance and family engagement through information sharing.
Department of Psychology, The New School for Social Research, New York, New York; Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York. Electronic address: gordonm2@mskcc.org.
Mallorie
M
Gordon
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.
Vivian M
VM
Rodríguez
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.
Elyse
E
Shuk
Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies, Adelphi University, New York, New York.
Maria
M
Schoenhammer
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.
Allan C
AC
Halpern
Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
Alan C
AC
Geller
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.
Jennifer L
JL
Hay
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008545:Melanoma / Q000517:prevention & control; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D009679:Nuclear Family / Q000523:psychology*; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012309:Risk-Taking; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*
Family communication; Health behavior; Risk behavior; Sun protection; Tanning