Skin cancer risk behaviors in sexual minority men: A mixed methods approach.

OBJECTIVE: Sexual minority men experience disproportionately elevated rates of skin cancers, likely driven by excess ultraviolet radiation exposure-namely through tanning behaviors. However, limited integrated theoretical models exist to explain sexual minority men's elevated skin cancer risk. The aim of the current study is to further test and refine an integrated theory of skin cancer risk behaviors among sexual minority men by incorporating minority stress into the integrated health behavior model of tanning. METHOD: The study employed a parallel mixed methods design, with a Phase 1 qualitative stage (N = 30) and a Phase 2 quantitative stage (Model 1: N = 320; Model 2: N = 319). In both phases, participants were sexual minority men, equally stratified as those with versus without recent tanning exposure and were recruited from across the United States. RESULTS: Qualitative and quantitative data supported the overall integrated model, with some quantitative paths varying depending on the tanning behavior outcome. Overall, appearance-related motives to tan and beliefs that tanning regulates affect emerged as the most consistent proximal predictors. Minority stress significantly predicted holding more positive attitudes toward tanning as an effective affect regulation strategy. CONCLUSIONS: The results from this mixed methods study support the inclusion of minority stressors into the adapted integrative health behavior model of tanning. Replication within prospective designs would strengthen the evidence for this model, which may be helpful in guiding future skin cancer prevention programs tailored to sexual minority men. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Efficacy of an appearance-based and a health-based sun protection intervention on summer vacationers' behaviours, PRISME cluster randomized crossover trial, France.

OBJECTIVES: Sun-seeking vacationers are particularly vulnerable to melanoma. Appearance-based interventions (ABi) showing skin damage of ultraviolet exposure may be a promising prevention tool to improve skin protection. This study aimed to measure and compare the efficacy of an ABi and a health-based intervention (HBi) on French summer vacationers' behaviours and to identify differences between subpopulations. DESIGN: A cluster randomized crossover trial with three intervention groups (control, ABi, HBi) was conducted in eight campsites on the French Mediterranean coast in summer 2019. METHODS: 1355 vacationers of both sexes and aged 12-55 years were included and followed up after 4 days (T1) and 14 months (T2). Efficacy of interventions was evaluated using multilevel mixed-effect models comparing groups on three outcomes: self-reported sun protection behaviours, sunbathing and skin colour measures. Protection behaviours were analysed according to subpopulations. RESULTS: Compared to controls, the ABi group had a higher protection and sunbathed for fewer hours at T1 and T2. In the HBi group, the skin colour was lighter than controls at T1. When comparing ABi to HBi, ABi participants had lower exposure than HBi at T1 and T2. The protection of people with a 3-years university degree was higher in the HBi group than in others groups while that of people with a secondary school certificate was higher in the ABi group. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides further evidence of individual sun protection interventions effect in a touristic setting and highlights the relevance of ABi messages to supplement HBi messages, particularly in certain subpopulations with low to intermediate education levels.

Tailored visuals, implementation interventions, and sun safe behavior: A longitudinal message experiment.

OBJECTIVE: One way to communicate skin cancer risk is through ultraviolet (UV) photographs, which can depict the target person (tailored visual) or someone else (stock visual). There is a need for more longitudinal research examining the relative impact of tailored UV photographs compared with other message interventions that could increase sun safe behaviors. METHOD: Students 14-18 years of age (N = 654) at eleven high schools in Utah were recruited to participate in a longitudinal experiment (assessments: pretest, posttest, 1 month follow-up) comparing the relative persuasive impact of receiving either (a) stock and tailored UV photographs or (b) stock UV photographs and an implementation intervention on outdoor tanning behavior. Participants completed measures of fear, appearance norms and benefits, threat susceptibility/severity, self-efficacy, response efficacy, freedom threat, reactance, and outdoor tanning behavior. RESULTS: Compared with the implementation intervention, participants in the tailored UV condition reported increased fear and freedom threat and decreased appearance norms and benefits of tanning immediately following exposure to the intervention and decreased outdoor tanning 1 month after the intervention. Indirect effects also emerged with tailored UV exposure decreasing outdoor tanning via appearance benefits and increasing outdoor tanning when immediate fear triggered psychological reactance. CONCLUSIONS: The results contribute to research on lay reactions to tailored visuals, implementation interventions, and theorizing the indirect effects of affect and cognition across time. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Skin Cancer Risk Perception and Tanning Bed Use: A Population-Based Survey to Identify Persons at Risk for Melanoma in Olmsted County, Minnesota.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous melanoma is strongly associated with tanning bed use. OBJECTIVE: To describe local residents' knowledge, attitudes, and behavior regarding skin cancer and tanning bed use and to estimate prevalence of high risk for melanoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A survey was mailed to 886 local residents (549, aged 18-39 years; 337, aged ≥40 years). Logistic and linear regression and univariate and multivariable analysis were used to assess perceived risk and skin cancer knowledge. RESULTS: The response rate was 21%; 55% of the younger group and 37% of the older group had used indoor tanning, and prevalence of high risk for melanoma according to a skin cancer risk calculator was 18% in the younger group and 33% in the older group. Individuals with high risk scores were more likely to correctly perceive that they were at high risk for skin cancer. Most participants with high risk scores and those who previously used tanning beds reported low likelihood of future indoor tanning. CONCLUSION: Female sex, high risk score, and previous indoor tanning were associated with participants' views of higher skin cancer risk. No specific knowledge gaps were identified. Understanding community residents' attitudes about skin cancer and indoor tanning can help guide interventions.

Perception and Transformation.

Exposure to ultraviolet radiation increases the risk of adverse health effects, predominantly skin cancer, which is the most common cancer among Caucasians. A large number of studies have shown that most of the people are aware of this risk and that sun protection behavior is a preventative measure. Nevertheless, despite the numerous public efforts made during the last decades, a large number of people still do not comply with sun protection practices recommended for sun safety. Public discussion about sunscreen safety and the idealization of a healthy tan are existing barriers for adequate protection. Research studies should continue to examine individual sun protection behavior for the development of target-orientated interventions. This will enable individuals to formulate a correct judgment of their own susceptibility and to handle perceived barriers for sun protection with a supportive environment.

Looking for Sunshine: Genetic Predisposition to Sun Seeking in 265,000 Individuals of European Ancestry.

Despite growing public awareness of the adverse consequences of excessive sun exposure, modifying sun-seeking behavior is challenging because it appears to be driven by addictive mechanisms. This can have effects on health because sun exposure, although beneficial, when prolonged and repeated shows a causal relationship with skin cancer risk. Using data from 2,500 United Kingdom twins, we observed sun seeking to be significantly heritable (h2 ≥ 58%). In a GWAS meta-analysis of sun-seeking behavior in 261,915 subjects of European ancestry, we identified five GWAS-significant loci previously associated with addiction, behavioral and personality traits, cognitive function, and educational attainment and enriched for CNS gene expression: MIR2113 (P = 2.08 × 10-11), FAM76B/MTMR2/CEP57 (P = 3.70 × 10-9), CADM2 (P = 9.36 × 10-9), TMEM182 (P = 1.64 × 10-8), and PLCL1/LINC01923/SATB2 (P = 3.93 × 10-8). These findings imply that the behavior concerning UV exposure is complicated by a genetic predisposition shared with neuropsychological traits. This should be taken into consideration when designing awareness campaigns and may help improve people's attitudes toward sun exposure.

Skin cancer and skin cancer risk behaviors among sexual and gender minority populations: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Individuals of sexual and gender minorities may have different lifetime risk of skin cancer and ultraviolet radiation exposure than heterosexual persons. OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the prevalence of skin cancer and behaviors that increase risk of skin cancer among sexual and gender minority populations. METHODS: We performed a systematic literature review in PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science, searching for articles through October 18, 2019, that investigated risk of skin cancer and behaviors among sexual and gender minority populations. RESULTS: Sexual minority men have a higher lifetime risk of any skin cancer (odds ratio range: 1.3-2.1) and indoor tanning bed use (odds ratio range: 2.8-5.9) compared with heterosexual men, whereas sexual minority women may use indoor tanning beds less frequently than heterosexual women and do not have an elevated risk of lifetime history of skin cancer. Gender-nonconforming individuals have higher lifetime prevalence of any skin cancer compared with cisgender men. LIMITATIONS: Most variables rely on self-reporting in their original studies. CONCLUSIONS: Sexual minority men disproportionately engage in use of indoor tanning beds, which may result in increased lifetime risk of skin cancer. Recognition of this risk is important for providing appropriate screening for patients in this population.

Sun protection education for adolescents: a feasibility study of a wait-list controlled trial of an intervention involving a presentation, action planning, and SMS messages and using objective measurement of sun exposure.

BACKGROUND: People increase their risk of melanoma unless they are protected from the harmful effects of sun exposure during childhood and adolescence. We aimed to assess the feasibility of a three-component sun protection intervention- presentation, action planning, and SMS messages - and trial parameters. METHODS: This feasibility wait-list trial was conducted in the United Kingdom in 2018. Students aged 13-15 years were eligible. Feasibility outcomes were collected for recruitment rates; data availability rates for objective measurements of melanin and erythema using a Mexameter and self-reported sunburn occurrences, severity and body location, tanning, sun protection behaviours and Skin Self-Examination (SSE) collected before (baseline) and after the school summer holidays (follow-up); intervention reach, adherence, perceived impact and acceptability. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics; qualitative data were analysed thematically. RESULTS: Five out of eight schools expressing an interest in participating with four allocated to act as intervention and one control. Four parents/carers opted their child out of the study. Four hundred and eighty-seven out of 724 students on the school register consented to the study at baseline (67%). Three hundred and eighty-five were in intervention group schools. Objective skin measurements were available for 255 (66%) of the intervention group at baseline and 237 (61%) of the group at follow up. Melanin increased; erythema decreased. Complete self-report data were available for 247 (64%) students in the intervention group. The number of students on the school register who attended the presentation and given the booklet was 379 (98%) and gave their mobile phone number was 155 (40%). No intervention component was perceived as more impactful on sun protection behaviours. Adolescents did not see the relevance of sun protection in the UK or for their age group. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to use a Mexameter to measure skin colour in adolescents. Erythema (visible redness) lasts no more than three days and its measurement before and after a six week summer holiday may not yield relevant or meaningful data. A major challenge is that adolescents do not see the relevance of sun protection and SSE. TRIAL REGISTRATION: International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number ISRCTN11141528. Date registered 0/2/03/2018; last edited 31/05/2018. Retrospectively registered.

Using Social Media to Determine the Affective and Cognitive Components of Tweets about Sunburn.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between social media usage and the public's expressions of sunburn remains unexplored. This study is a content analysis of Twitter that was performed to identify the public's expressions, perceptions, and attitudes towards sunburn. METHODS: Qualitative content analysis was conducted on tweets by Australian Twitter users during January 2007 and January 2016. Out of 2,000 tweets available, in-depth content analysis of 200 random tweets was performed. RESULTS: Tweets in this study were categorised into 10 distinct themes, three of which were cognitive (fact based) and seven affective (emotional), while one was miscellaneous. Results reveal that tweets about sunburn overwhelmingly contained affective as opposed to cognitive components. In addition, the sentiments contained in the affective tweets were frequently positively (68.9%) rather than negatively valanced (31.1%). While humour was the most common theme (n = 68 tweets), many tweets also expressed a link between Australian national identity and sunburn (n = 25 tweets). CONCLUSION: Many of the tweets analysed contained positive affective sentiments such as joy, rather than worry or concern, suggesting an avenue for further health promotion research.

Efficacy and Mediators of a Web-Based Media Literacy Intervention for Indoor Tanning Prevention.

Extant media literacy interventions have been delivered in person, limiting their potential for large scale reach, implementation, and dissemination. Although emerging evidence suggests the interventions can impact behavior, the theoretical mediators that can explain the efficacy remain unknown. This study investigated the efficacy and mediators of a web-based media literacy intervention for reducing indoor tanning behavior among young women. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: a media literacy intervention with counter argument production, a media literacy intervention with counter story production, or an assessment-only control condition. The outcomes of indoor tanning behavior and intention were evaluated with 3- and 6-month follow-ups. Results indicated significant effects of the web-based intervention on reducing indoor tanning behavior at the follow-ups. Changes in perceived media realism completely mediated the intervention effects on behavior. Perceived media realism, positive and negative outcome expectancies, and collective efficacy partially mediated intervention effects on intention. This study demonstrates the efficacy of a web-based media literacy intervention and the theoretical mechanisms underlying the efficacy. It indicates that by altering perceived media realism, outcome expectancies, and collective efficacy, web-based media literacy interventions could generate behavioral effects.

Risk Perception Plays Minimal Role in Sun Exposure Behaviours.

Despite decades of public health campaigns, tanning and sunburn still occur at unacceptably high rates. Skin cancer prevention campaigns predominately focus on increasing awareness of the risk of excessive sun exposure. This study sought to assess the efficacy of this approach, by interrogating correlations between risk perception and sun exposure behaviour. A 31-item questionnaire assessing skin cancer risk factors, tanning attitudes, sunburn and tanning behaviour was undertaken by individuals who attended a workplace skin check. Validated questions were included to assess cognitive and affective risk perception and to frame risk as absolute, comparative and conditional. One hundred sixty-seven respondents completed the questionnaire. No aspects of risk perception (absolute cognitive, affective or conditional) significantly correlated with protective sun exposure behaviour, with the exception of perceived comparative severity of skin cancer. Instead, positive tanning attitudes were far more significantly correlated with sun exposure behaviour. Actual risk and risk perception have very limited impact on sun exposure behaviour. Instead, sun exposure behaviour was significantly linked with positive tanning attitudes. It is suggested, therefore, that campaigns focussing solely on education regarding risk factors appear to have been ineffective in behaviour mitigation, and innovative approaches, aimed at influencing tanning norms, might complement the existing educational campaigns.

Genetic Associations with Indoor Tanning Addiction among non-Hispanic White Young Adult Women.

BACKGROUND: Some young people may become addicted to indoor tanning in a manner similar to other forms of addiction, but research on genetic associations with indoor tanning addiction remains limited. PURPOSE: To examine if liabilities in genetic addiction reward pathways and psychiatric comorbidity influence the risk of indoor tanning addiction. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study with a community sample of 292 non-Hispanic white young adult women aged 18-30 years who reported indoor tanning in the past year. Self-report measures included indoor tanning frequency, appearance orientation, depressive symptoms, and two screeners of tanning addiction. DNA samples were analyzed for 34 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in candidate genes in addiction reward pathways. RESULTS: No SNPs were significantly associated with tanning addiction in univariate analyses after multiplicity adjustment. In multivariable analyses adjusting for indoor tanning frequency, appearance orientation, and depressive symptoms, variant genotypes (CC or CT) in two DRD2 dopamine receptor gene SNPs were associated with increased odds of indoor tanning addiction (rs4436578, odds ratio [OR]: 2.30, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11-4.77; rs4648318, OR: 1.95, 95% CI: 1.02-3.72). Variant SNP genotypes interacted with depressive symptoms to increase the risk of indoor tanning addiction: OR: 10.79, 95% CI: 3.25, 35.80, OR: 13.60, 95% CI: 4.13, 44.78, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides preliminary evidence that DRD2 dopamine receptor gene SNPs are associated with indoor tanning addiction and young women with variant genotypes and elevated depressive symptoms may be at higher risk. These preliminary results support a reward-based model for indoor tanning addiction and warrant further investigation.

Connections between sources of health and beauty information and indoor tanning behavior among college women.

Objective: This study tested how media, family, and peer sources of health and beauty information predict indoor tanning (IT) beliefs and behavior. Participants: 210 undergraduate women at a state university in the southeastern United States. Methods: Respondents completed a survey about sources of health and beauty information, IT beliefs, and IT behavior. Correlations and a path model were used to test associations between variables. Results: Friends were positively and family were negatively associated with positive outcome expectations, with mood enhancement beliefs positively predicting behavior. Reliance on news positively predicted appearance damage and immediate risk, which both predicted behavior. Reliance on social media was negatively associated with beliefs about immediate risks. Conclusion: Health and beauty information from social media and from friends may promote beliefs about tanning, while information from news or one's family may reduce risky beliefs. Prevention efforts could leverage information sources to shift tanning beliefs and behavior.

Tanning benefits, seasonal effects, and concerns about sunscreen: Measuring health beliefs about UV among college students.

Objective: To develop and validate a scale measuring health beliefs about UV in cloudy climates that may impact UV exposure behaviors. Participants: Students at a large university in Oregon completed pilot (N = 115) and final (N = 335) scales online March-July, 2016. Five participants underwent cognitive interviews. Methods: Expert feedback, cognitive interviews, and pilot data guided item development and refinement. We conducted factor analysis and invariance testing. Results: The final four-factor model fit well (χ2 = 37.97, df = 37, RMSEA = 0.000, CFI = 1.000). HBAU subscales are Sunscreen Toxicity, Seasonal Effects, Health Benefits of Tanning, and Tanning Through the Winter. Invariance testing supported strong invariance across sex and tanning status. Conclusion: The HBAU measures beliefs that encourage UV exposure and discourage protection (eg, the belief that sunscreen ingredients are toxic). This scale will enable more comprehensive measurement of cognitive predictors of UV exposure for student health, clinical, and research purposes.

Attitudes and practice among dermatologists regarding indoor tanning.

The aim of this study was to explore dermatologists' practices and attitudes related to educating and counseling their adolescent patients about indoor tanning. An online survey was carried out with a convenience sample of 100 dermatologists. Findings indicated that the majority of the dermatologists are actively engaged in discussing tanning bed use and sun protection with their adolescent patients. Most expressed positive attitudes toward educating patients on the risks of tanning bed use. Limited time was the most commonly reported barrier for the lack of discussion regarding indoor tanning. Of note, more than half of the dermatologists (65%) had patients suffering from tanning addiction. For tanning-addicted patients, dermatologists can encourage lifestyle changes, the use of sunless tanning products, and referrals when the patient's needs extend beyond the scope of the dermatologist.