ASPO Abstracts
Sociodemographic predictors of adolescents" sun protection cognitions and sunburns
Category: Behavioral Science & Health Communication
Conference Year: 2022
Abstract Body:
Purpose: In advance of a school-based skin cancer prevention intervention for adolescents, we assessed students' demographic characteristics and cognitive factors that are associated with sun protection and exposure.Methods: Within 10 Utah high schools that completed a baseline visit in Fall 2021, 463 students (47.2% male; 21.9% non-White; 38.4% from rural schools; Mage=15.16) completed a baseline assessment, which included questions on sun protection and exposure, self-efficacy for sun protection behaviors, response efficacy for sun protection, perceived risk of melanoma, and perceived severity of melanoma (rated from 1=strongly disagree to 5=strongly agree). Descriptive statistics and t-tests were used to assess differences in these variables based on demographic factors (gender, race, rural vs. urban school). Results: Self-efficacy for performing sun protection behaviors was moderate (Ms=2.84-3.69), as was perceived risk (M=3.31). Response efficacy for sun protection (M=3.86) and perceived severity of melanoma (M=3.95) had relatively greater endorsement. Compared to females, males found it easier to use sunscreen (M=3.53 vs. 3.36, p=.047) and protective clothing (M=3.87 vs. 3.53, p<.001). Compared to non-White students, White students found it easier to avoid the sun during peak UV hours (M=3.78 vs. 3.11, p=.007), reported greater perceived risk of melanoma (M=3.42 vs. 2.90, p<.001), and reported greater perceived severity of melanoma (M=4.00 vs. 3.79, p=.009). White participants also reported more sunburns in the past year (M=2.08 vs. .77, p<.007). Compared to students in rural schools, those in urban schools found it easier to use sunscreen (M=3.61 vs. 3.19, p<.001), wear protective clothing (M=3.77 vs. 3.56, p=.017), and avoid the sun during peak UV hours (M=2.94 vs. 2.67, p=.020). Students in urban schools also reported greater response efficacy for sun protection (M=3.94 vs. 3.73, p=.002), greater perceived severity of melanoma (M=4.02 vs. 3.83, p=.006), and fewer sunburns (M=1.61 vs. 2.06, p<.001).Conclusions: Adolescent students might benefit from interventions that enhance self-efficacy for sun protection and perceived risk of melanoma. Education on sun protection and melanoma risk is especially needed in rural schools.
Keywords: Sun protection; adolescents; rural health