Abstract
A psychosocial model of sun protection and sunbathing as distinct behaviors was developed on 202 young Caucasian women and replicated in an independent sample (n = 207). Proximal outcomes were intention to sun protect and intention to sunbathe; distal outcomes included sun protection and sunbathing behavior measured 5 months later. Objective risk for skin cancer plus 4 classes of psychosocial variables (sun-protective health beliefs, self-efficacy for sun protection, attitudes toward sunbathing, and norms for sunbathing and sun protection) served as predictors. Sun-protective norms and self-efficacy for sun protection predicted only intention to sun protect; sunbathing norms predicted only intention to sunbathe. Susceptibility and advantages of tanning predicted both intention constructs, which, in turn, predicted behavior. These findings distinguish sun protection from sunbathing and provide a basis for intervention design.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 469-478 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Health Psychology |
Volume | 19 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2000 |
Keywords
- Health belief model
- Norms
- Photoaging
- Skin cancer
- Sun protection
- Sunscreen
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Applied Psychology
- Psychiatry and Mental health