Nick Carcioppolo1, Yixin Chen2, Kevin K John3, Andrea Martinez Gonzalez4, Andy J King5, Susan E Morgan6, Shasa Hu7. 1. Assistant Professor, Department of Communication Studies, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL. 2. Assistant Professor, Department of Communication Studies, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX. 3. Assistant Professor, School of Communications, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT. 4. Research Assistant, Department of Communication, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL. 5. Assistant Professor, College of Media and Communication, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX. 6. Professor, Department of Communication Studies, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL. 7. Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL;, Email: n.carcioppolo@miami.edu.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Research indicates that mood-based motivations may be an important predictor of indoor tanning bed use and may be related to indoor tanning dependence. Problematically, little research has been conducted to develop a psychometric measure of mood-based tanning motivations. The current study seeks to develop and validate the moodbased indoor tanning scale (MITS). METHODS: Two studies were conducted to identify and verify the MITS factor structure as well as assess construct validity. Study 1 was conducted at 5 geographically diverse universities in the United States. Study 2 was conducted by using a national online sample in the United States. RESULTS: Results from study 1 specified the factor structure of the MITS. Results from study 2 suggest that a one-point increase in the MITS measure corresponds with using indoor tanning beds 11 more times in the past year. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that moodbased tanning motivations are a strong predictor of indoor tanning intentions and behavior. Further, they suggest that health behavior researchers and healthcare practitioners can use the MITS to assess the extent to which mood-based motivations impact indoor tanning bed use.
OBJECTIVES: Research indicates that mood-based motivations may be an important predictor of indoor tanning bed use and may be related to indoor tanning dependence. Problematically, little research has been conducted to develop a psychometric measure of mood-based tanning motivations. The current study seeks to develop and validate the moodbased indoor tanning scale (MITS). METHODS: Two studies were conducted to identify and verify the MITS factor structure as well as assess construct validity. Study 1 was conducted at 5 geographically diverse universities in the United States. Study 2 was conducted by using a national online sample in the United States. RESULTS: Results from study 1 specified the factor structure of the MITS. Results from study 2 suggest that a one-point increase in the MITS measure corresponds with using indoor tanning beds 11 more times in the past year. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that moodbased tanning motivations are a strong predictor of indoor tanning intentions and behavior. Further, they suggest that health behavior researchers and healthcare practitioners can use the MITS to assess the extent to which mood-based motivations impact indoor tanning bed use.