UV Light Abuse as a Substance-Related Disorder

Abstract

The failure of efforts to alter tanning behaviors may be a result of the addictive nature of UV light. A survey was administered to undergraduate college students to determine the existence of substance-related disorder (SRD). Of 385 respondents, 12% scored positively on the cut down, annoyed, guilty, eye-opener indicating SRD. Women, indoor tanners, students with tanning family and friends, and frequent tanners were significantly more likely than their peers to score positively. A significant proportion of college students demonstrate evidence of SRD with respect to UV light.