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Indoor tanning among high school students linked with risk-taking behaviors

More than 13% of US high school students reported indoor tanning in 2011, with a greater prevalence among female, older and non-Hispanic white females, and an association with other risk-taking behaviors, according to recent survey results.

Researchers conducted a cross-sectional study of data from the 2009 and 2011 national Youth Risk Behavior Surveys, which represented approximately 46 million US high school students. The analysis included 25,861 students (52.1% males) who answered the question, “During the past 12 months, how many times did you use an indoor tanning device such as a sunlamp, sunbed or tanning booth?” A multivariable logistic regression model was used for analysis.

Indoor tanning was reported by 13.3% of surveyed students in 2011. There were 31.5% of female students aged 18 years and older and 29.3% of non-Hispanic white female students who participated in the practice that year. The adjusted prevalence of indoor tanning declined from 26.4% in 2009 to 20.7% in 2011 among females.

Female and male students had an association between indoor tanning and other risk-taking behaviors, including binge drinking (P<.001 and P=.006, respectively), unhealthy weight control (P<.001, both) and engaging in sexual intercourse (P<.001, both). Illegal drug use (P<.001) and having sex with four or more people (P=.03) were associated with indoor tanning and female students, while males had an association between indoor tanning and taking steroids without a prescription (P<.001), daily cigarette smoking (P=.03) and attempting suicide (P=.006).

“Public health efforts are needed to change social norms regarding tanned skin and to increase awareness, knowledge and behaviors related to indoor tanning,” the researchers concluded. “The clustering of risky behaviors suggests a need for coordinated, multifaceted approaches, including primary care physician counseling, to address such behaviors among adolescents.”

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.