ASPO Abstracts
Primary Prevention Across the Life Course: Findings from the Young Women's Breast Cancer and Media Study
Category: Behavioral Science & Health Communication
Conference Year: 2019
Abstract Body:
Introduction: Breast cancer is typically seen as a disease of mid-life, but growingevidence supports primary prevention throughout women’s lives. Little is known about thesalience of breast cancer prevention messages for younger women, especially those at riskfor breast cancer disparities. Description: Our multi-phase exploratory project first analyzed a purposive sample of newsand popular media messages on breast cancer aimed at young adults. We then used thesemainstream and tailored media examples in 7 focus groups with Philadelphia-areaAfrican-American, Latina, Asian-American and sexual minority women age 21-30. Identity-concordant moderators explored knowledge, attitudes and practices regardinghealth in general and breast cancer specifically, and media credibility and usagepatterns. Guided discussion of breast cancer-related media examples was used to exploreaudience interpretation and response to messaging. Responses to a brief structuredsurvey, and transcribed audio-recordings of focus group discussions were analyzed. Findings: Participants had diverse levels of resources: 40% were born outside of theU.S., 37% were uninsured, and 37% had < high school education. Most used social media(i.e., 86% facebook, 71% Instagram), 83% read on-line news at least weekly, and 63% hadsearched on-line for cancer information. When asked about cancer prevention across thelifecourse, many young women expressed limitations on ideal health behaviors at theircurrent life stage, due to economic constraints, or stressors related to school, job orfamily. Respondents had little knowledge of evidence supporting risk-reducing behaviors,such as breast feeding, diet and physical activity, or limiting alcohol. Although youngwomen recognized the importance of risk reduction, most felt that behavior change would bemore feasible, and more important, when they were older. Conclusions: Young women of all backgrounds and levels of access to information are notwell informed about primary prevention of breast cancer. Planning for health behaviorchange during young adulthood appears highly salient, but must consider life roles, whichwidely differ by SES and culture.
Keywords: Media, breast cancerprevention,disparities,