Tanning and Teens: Is Indoor Exposure the Tip of the Iceberg?

Sun Exposure, Tanning Behaviors, and Sunburn: Examining Activities Associated With Harmful Ultraviolet Radiation Exposures in College Students

Understanding the behaviors that lead to sunburn is an important objective toward developing intervention strategies to reduce risk for skin cancers. Our cross-sectional study surveyed 400 college students aged 18 and older at a public state university in the northeastern US in 2018 to assess tanning behaviors, outdoor activities, sun protection, and sunburn over the past year. Sunburn was exceedingly common; over half reported one or more sunburns in the past 12 months. Outdoor intentional and unintentional tanning were also common. Male sex, White race, sun sensitive skin type, and outdoor intentional and unintentional tanning were independently associated with increased odds of sunburn. Water and non-water sports, sunbathing, and vacations were also associated with sunburn. These results indicate that tanning and outdoor activities such as sports are important behaviors on which to focus for sunburn prevention among college students. Understanding the behaviors that are associated with sunburn provides useful opportunities to prevent skin cancer among young people.

Indoor Tanning Trends Among US Adults, 2007-2018

Objectives. To examine indoor tanning trends among US adults, and the relation to indoor tanning youth access legislation.Methods. This study analyzed the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS), a mailed survey, from the years 2007, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017, and 2018 (combined n = 20 2019).Results. Indoor tanning prevalence decreased significantly over time among all US adults from 2007 (10%) to 2018 (4%; P < .001), among young adults aged 18 to 34 years (14% to 4%; P < .001), and among both women (14% to 4%; P < .001) and men (5% to 4%; P < .05). Indoor tanning significantly decreased in states that enacted youth access legislation by 2018, but did not significantly decrease for other states. Frequent indoor tanning was common in 2018; about one quarter of respondents who reported any indoor tanning did so 25 times or more in the past year.Conclusions. This study identifies several challenges in continuing to reduce indoor tanning in the United States. Youth access legislation may be effective for reducing tanning among the broader population of tanners; however, there remains a need for focus on highly frequent tanners, as well as men.

A four-group experiment to improve Western high school students' sun protection behaviors

Multicomponent skin cancer preventive interventions for adolescents that aim to decrease ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure and sunburns are particularly needed given their intentional tanning and infrequent use of sun protection. The purpose of this study was to conduct an early-phase study within the Multiphase Optimization Strategy framework that experimentally tested four unique intervention components targeting high school students' skin cancer prevention behaviors. Schools (11 total, N = 1,573 students) were assigned to receive one of four interventions: skin cancer education (control), education plus a sunscreen activity (to illustrate sunscreen's UVR-blocking properties), or behavior change worksheet (sun protection goal setting and planning) or receipt of a personalized UV damage photograph (photograph of facial damage). Sun protection, sunburn, and tanning outcomes were assessed before intervention and at 1-month follow-up. Within- and between-intervention changes in outcomes were examined using generalized estimating equation modeling. All interventions were associated with significant improvements in sun protection. The photograph was superior in controlling intentional tanning and sunburn when compared to the behavior change worksheet (ps < .05). In contrast, the worksheet was associated with greater increases in sun protection use when compared with the photograph (ps < .05). In this experiment testing four skin cancer preventive intervention components that varied in approach, content, and interactivity, the behavior change worksheet was superior in improving sun protection use whereas the UV photograph was superior in controlling intentional tanning and sunburn. Future randomized trials to test combinations of these intervention components are needed, and could identify mechanisms underlying improved effects and demographic or behavioral moderators of intervention effects.

'I am happier with my fairer complexion': factors associated with former indoor tanning and reasons for quitting in college women

This study of 312 female undergraduates investigated the association of recently, formerly, or never indoor tanning with self-perceptions and social influence, and examined reasons to tan and not to tan. Previous research on indoor tanning has focused on recent or current tanners, and few studies have examined former indoor tanners. By examining self-perceptions and social influence, this study aimed to understand how these common tanning correlates, measured in former indoor tanners, compared to those who have never tanned indoors (i.e., never tanners) and those who have recently tanned indoors. Appearance and global self-perceptions were more positive in former indoor tanners compared to never tanners and recent tanners. Recent indoor tanning was positively associated with both higher outdoor tanning frequency and having a higher number of friends performing skin cancer risk behaviors, and formerly indoor tanning was also associated with both, but to a lesser extent. Appearance and social influence were commonly described as reasons for indoor tanning, and perceived health risk, appearance, and social influence were described as prominent reasons for tanning cessation. This study improves what is known about former indoor tanners, which may be useful for behavior change maintenance efforts and developing approaches for skin cancer screening interventions.

Prevalence and correlates of intentional outdoor and indoor tanning among adolescents in the United States: Findings from the FLASHE survey

A body of research has focused on adolescents' indoor tanning behaviors but relatively little is known about the prevalence of adolescents' intentional outdoor tanning (time spent outdoors to get a tan). The present study used data from the National Cancer Institute's 2014 Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health and Eating (FLASHE) cross-sectional survey to examine the prevalence and correlates of intentional outdoor and indoor tanning among adolescents in the United States. Both unadjusted (bivariate) and adjusted (multi-variate) logistic regressions were performed to test the associations between demographic variables, time spent on media (e.g., using computers), emotional status and outdoor or indoor tanning. The overall prevalence of frequent outdoor tanning among adolescents in the U.S. was 15.6% (95% CI 13.8-17.4%) and the rate of indoor tanning in the past 12 months was 3% (95% CI 2.2-3.9). The adjusted odds of intentional outdoor tanning were significantly higher among girls (AOR 2.39, 95% CI 1.75-3.27), Non-Hispanic Whites (AOR 2.85, 95% CI 1.99-4.07), and those who spent more time on cell phones (AOR 1.40, 95% CI 1.25-1.57). The adjusted odds of indoor tanning were significantly higher among those who spent more time on computers (AOR 1.38, 95% CI 1.09-1.74) and cell phones (AOR 1.49, 95% CI 1.19-1.87). This study provides evidence for the relationship between media use and tanning behaviors among adolescents.