Psychosocial correlates of sunburn among young adult women.

Carolyn J Heckman,Jessye Cohen-Filipic,Jacqueline D Kloss,Clifford S Perlis,Teja Munshi,Susan Darlow,Sharon L Manne

doi:10.3390/ijerph9062241

Abstract

Skin cancer is an increasingly common disease, particularly among young adult women. Sunburn early in life is a risk factor for skin cancer. Few studies have reported on psychosocial correlates of sunburn. The current study consisted of an online survey of undergraduate women from a university in the northeastern part of the USA. A logistic regression demonstrated that young women who reported a history of four or more sunburns were significantly more likely to report fair skin, higher perceived susceptibility to skin cancer, greater perceived benefits of tanning (e.g., appearance enhancement), lower perceived control over skin protection, and more frequent sunscreen use. Sunbathing was not associated with a greater number of sunburns. These results suggest that young women who sunburn more often possess other skin cancer risk factors, are aware of their susceptibility to skin cancer, and try to use sunscreen, but feel limited control over their skin protection behavior and are not less likely to sunbathe than others. Therefore, interventions are needed to assist high risk young women in asserting more control over their sun protection behavior and perhaps improve the effectiveness of the sunscreen or other skin protection methods they do employ.

Highlights

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the USA, accounting for half of all human malignancies, with over two million new cases diagnosed yearly [1]
Sunburns increase the risk of melanoma, repeated blistering sunburns during childhood and adolescence [6,7]
Sunburn during childhood can double the risk for the development of melanoma in adulthood [8,9]

Summary

Introduction

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the USA, accounting for half of all human malignancies, with over two million new cases diagnosed yearly [1]. The incidence of melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, has more than doubled among young women aged 15–29 years, from 5.5 to 13.9 cases per 100,000 [3]. Sunburns increase the risk of melanoma, repeated blistering sunburns during childhood and adolescence [6,7]. Sunburn during childhood can double the risk for the development of melanoma in adulthood [8,9]. A recent review of national studies found that the incidence of past year sunburn among adolescents ages 11–18 years was 68.7% [10]. One in three US adults reports burning during the past year, with rates being highest among young adults aged 18–29 years (57.5%) [10]

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Conclusion