Elizabeth A Grunfeld1. 1. Psychology Unit, Guy's, King's and St Thomas' Medical School, King's College London, London, UK. beth.grunfeld@kcl.ac.uk
Abstract
PURPOSE: To apply Protection Motivation Theory to examine adolescents' intentions to perform safe sun exposure behaviors. METHODS: A total of 239 students (aged 18 to 22 years) from two British universities were recruited to the study. The majority of participants were white (68%), 29% were classified as Asian, and the remaining 3% were Afro-Caribbean. Participants completed a questionnaire comprising items examining the components of Protection Motivation Theory. Intention to perform safe sun exposure behaviors was examined by asking participants to indicate their agreement with five statements about future sun exposure behaviors. RESULTS: Hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that the threat appraisal components of Protection Motivation Theory were stronger predictors of intention to perform safe sun exposure behaviors (accounting for 15% of the variance) than the coping appraisal components (accounting for 3% of the variance). However, previous performance of similar behaviors emerged as the strongest overall predictor of intention to perform safe sun exposure behaviors (beta = -.514, p < .01), followed by perceived vulnerability to developing skin cancer (beta = .232, p < .01) and practicing skin and naevi self examination behaviors (beta = -.172, p < .01). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that a strategic sun protection education campaign is necessary with the aim of encouraging adaptive sun behaviors by emphasizing the risk of skin cancer associated with sunburn.
PURPOSE: To apply Protection Motivation Theory to examine adolescents' intentions to perform safe sun exposure behaviors. METHODS: A total of 239 students (aged 18 to 22 years) from two British universities were recruited to the study. The majority of participants were white (68%), 29% were classified as Asian, and the remaining 3% were Afro-Caribbean. Participants completed a questionnaire comprising items examining the components of Protection Motivation Theory. Intention to perform safe sun exposure behaviors was examined by asking participants to indicate their agreement with five statements about future sun exposure behaviors. RESULTS: Hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that the threat appraisal components of Protection Motivation Theory were stronger predictors of intention to perform safe sun exposure behaviors (accounting for 15% of the variance) than the coping appraisal components (accounting for 3% of the variance). However, previous performance of similar behaviors emerged as the strongest overall predictor of intention to perform safe sun exposure behaviors (beta = -.514, p < .01), followed by perceived vulnerability to developing skin cancer (beta = .232, p < .01) and practicing skin and naevi self examination behaviors (beta = -.172, p < .01). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that a strategic sun protection education campaign is necessary with the aim of encouraging adaptive sun behaviors by emphasizing the risk of skin cancer associated with sunburn.
Authors: Richard Bränström; Nadine A Kasparian; Yu-mei Chang; Paul Affleck; Aad Tibben; Lisa G Aspinwall; Esther Azizi; Orna Baron-Epel; Linda Battistuzzi; Wilma Bergman; William Bruno; May Chan; Francisco Cuellar; Tadeusz Debniak; Dace Pjanova; Slawomir Ertmanski; Adina Figl; Melinda Gonzalez; Nicholas K Hayward; Marko Hocevar; Peter A Kanetsky; Sancy A Leachman; Olita Heisele; Jane Palmer; Barbara Peric; Susana Puig; Dirk Schadendorf; Nelleke A Gruis; Julia Newton-Bishop; Yvonne Brandberg Journal: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev Date: 2010-07-19 Impact factor: 4.254
Authors: Yen-Ching Chen; David C Christiani; Huey-Jen Jenny Su; Yu-Mei Hsueh; Thomas J Smith; Louise M Ryan; Sheau-Chiou Chao; Julia Yu-Yun Lee; Yue-Liang Leon Guo Journal: Cancer Causes Control Date: 2010-01-19 Impact factor: 2.506
Authors: Richard Bränström; Yu-Mei Chang; Nadine Kasparian; Paul Affleck; Aad Tibben; Lisa G Aspinwall; Esther Azizi; Orna Baron-Epel; Linda Battistuzzi; William Bruno; May Chan; Francisco Cuellar; Tadeusz Debniak; Dace Pjanova; Sławomir Ertmański; Adina Figl; Melinda Gonzalez; Nicholas K Hayward; Marko Hocevar; Peter A Kanetsky; Samantha L Leaf; Frans A van Nieuwpoort; Olita Heisele; Jane Palmer; Barbara Peric; Susana Puig; Althea D Ruffin; Dirk Schadendorf; Nelleke A Gruis; Yvonne Brandberg; Julia Newton-Bishop Journal: Eur J Cancer Prev Date: 2010-05 Impact factor: 2.497