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Expectations assessment may help guide future research, deter indoor tanning

Belief systems and expected outcomes of women with indoor tanning history may be useful in advancing research on tanning beliefs and guiding indoor tanning prevention efforts, according to a recent study.

Researchers conducted a web survey for 11 sororities in the southeastern U.S. The study included 701 participants; mean age was 19.3 years.

The survey included questions on skin type, sun protection behaviors and family history of cancer. Attitudes toward indoor tanning, motivations, appearance reasons to tan and indoor tanning temptations were examined. Indoor tanning intentions, indoor tanner type and tanning frequency were also covered.

Overall, 54.7% (n = 386) participants were non-tanners, 15% (n = 106) were former tanners and 30.3% (n = 214) were current tanners.

The researchers developed a comprehensive scale to assess indoor tanning expectations. Appearance benefits, mood enhancement, convenience, health improvement, social approval and parental approval were the six positive outcome expectations that made up the final solution, accounting for 72.9% of the variance. Negative outcome expectations included health threat, psychological/physical discomfort, appearance harms, social disapproval, and parental disapproval, explaining 74.6% of the variance.

Former tanners tended to have more negative and fewer positive expectations than the other participants — specifically no longer perceiving health and appearance benefits while recognizing the potential harm of indoor tanning, according to the researchers.

Disclosures: The researchers have no relevant financial disclosures.