Original articles
What influences university students’ intentions to practice safe sun exposure behaviors?

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2003.11.093Get rights and content

Abstract

Purpose

To apply Protection Motivation Theory to examine adolescents’ intentions to perform safe sun exposure behaviors.

Methods

A total of 239 students (aged 18 to 22 years) from two British universities were recruited to the study. The majority of participants were white (68%), 29% were classified as Asian, and the remaining 3% were Afro-Caribbean. Participants completed a questionnaire comprising items examining the components of Protection Motivation Theory. Intention to perform safe sun exposure behaviors was examined by asking participants to indicate their agreement with five statements about future sun exposure behaviors.

Results

Hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that the threat appraisal components of Protection Motivation Theory were stronger predictors of intention to perform safe sun exposure behaviors (accounting for 15% of the variance) than the coping appraisal components (accounting for 3% of the variance). However, previous performance of similar behaviors emerged as the strongest overall predictor of intention to perform safe sun exposure behaviors (beta = −.514, p < .01), followed by perceived vulnerability to developing skin cancer (beta = .232, p < .01) and practicing skin and naevi self examination behaviors (beta = −.172, p < .01).

Conclusions

The results suggest that a strategic sun protection education campaign is necessary with the aim of encouraging adaptive sun behaviors by emphasizing the risk of skin cancer associated with sunburn.

Section snippets

Participants

The sample comprised 239 students recruited from two British universities. All participants were recruited either as part of an undergraduate psychology student project or in partial fulfilment of the requirements of an undergraduate psychology course; however, participation was voluntary, as there was a wide range of studies in which students could choose to participate. There were 39 (16%) male students and 200 (84%) female students, which reflects the predominance of female students on

Results

Participants were asked to describe their skin type according to the following classifications: “always tan, never burn” (33%); “always tan, sometimes burn” (39%); “always burn, sometimes tan” (24%); and “always burn, never tan” (4%). Seven percent of the sample reported having a relative who had experienced skin cancer and 11% knew of a nonfamily contact who had experienced skin cancer.

Only 12% of the sample reported that they regularly or frequently examined their skin for changes in nevi,

Discussion

The study examined whether the components of protection motivation theory were good predictors of intentions to practice adaptive and maladaptive sun exposure behaviors. The study focused on a sample of adolescents because solar exposure in early life is associated with increased incidence of melanoma in later life. Therefore, an understanding of the beliefs of teens and young adults is a key component in the development of health education campaigns aimed at reducing skin cancers. The results

References (21)

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