Trends in Australian adolescents' sun-protection behaviours: Implications for health campaigns

Objective: Protecting the skin from ultraviolet (UV) radiation is critical during adolescence to reduce the risk of developing skin cancer later in life, but adolescents tend to be less likely to engage in sun-protective behaviours than adults. The present study examined changes and trends (2001/02-...

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Main Authors: Koch, S., Pettigrew, Simone, Hollier, L., Slevin, T., Strickland, M., Minto, C., Jalleh, Geoffrey, Lin, C.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia 2016
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/7536
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author Koch, S.
Pettigrew, Simone
Hollier, L.
Slevin, T.
Strickland, M.
Minto, C.
Jalleh, Geoffrey
Lin, C.
author_facet Koch, S.
Pettigrew, Simone
Hollier, L.
Slevin, T.
Strickland, M.
Minto, C.
Jalleh, Geoffrey
Lin, C.
author_sort Koch, S.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Objective: Protecting the skin from ultraviolet (UV) radiation is critical during adolescence to reduce the risk of developing skin cancer later in life, but adolescents tend to be less likely to engage in sun-protective behaviours than adults. The present study examined changes and trends (2001/02-2011/12) in sun-protection behaviours among adolescents living in Western Australia - a region with high levels of UV radiation. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted during 10 summers between 2001/02 and 2011/12 to investigate how often adolescents engaged in various sun-protection behaviours, including outdoor protective measures (wearing a hat, wearing protective clothing, using sunscreen, wearing sunglasses, seeking shade) and avoidance of UV radiation by staying inside. Results: Hat use significantly decreased between 2001/02 and 2011/12, whereas use of sunscreen and wearing covering clothes were unchanged in most survey years relative to 2001/02. Use of sunglasses peaked in 2006/07 and 2007/08, but returned to first survey year levels in 2011/12, while staying inside was more frequently reported from 2006/07 onwards. Conclusions: New approaches are needed to minimise reactance responses in adolescents while fostering favourable attitudes to sun protection. Implications and opportunities for interventions to promote better sun-protection practices among adolescents are provided.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-75362017-09-13T14:37:53Z Trends in Australian adolescents' sun-protection behaviours: Implications for health campaigns Koch, S. Pettigrew, Simone Hollier, L. Slevin, T. Strickland, M. Minto, C. Jalleh, Geoffrey Lin, C. Objective: Protecting the skin from ultraviolet (UV) radiation is critical during adolescence to reduce the risk of developing skin cancer later in life, but adolescents tend to be less likely to engage in sun-protective behaviours than adults. The present study examined changes and trends (2001/02-2011/12) in sun-protection behaviours among adolescents living in Western Australia - a region with high levels of UV radiation. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted during 10 summers between 2001/02 and 2011/12 to investigate how often adolescents engaged in various sun-protection behaviours, including outdoor protective measures (wearing a hat, wearing protective clothing, using sunscreen, wearing sunglasses, seeking shade) and avoidance of UV radiation by staying inside. Results: Hat use significantly decreased between 2001/02 and 2011/12, whereas use of sunscreen and wearing covering clothes were unchanged in most survey years relative to 2001/02. Use of sunglasses peaked in 2006/07 and 2007/08, but returned to first survey year levels in 2011/12, while staying inside was more frequently reported from 2006/07 onwards. Conclusions: New approaches are needed to minimise reactance responses in adolescents while fostering favourable attitudes to sun protection. Implications and opportunities for interventions to promote better sun-protection practices among adolescents are provided. 2016 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/7536 10.1111/1753-6405.12561 Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia unknown
spellingShingle Koch, S.
Pettigrew, Simone
Hollier, L.
Slevin, T.
Strickland, M.
Minto, C.
Jalleh, Geoffrey
Lin, C.
Trends in Australian adolescents' sun-protection behaviours: Implications for health campaigns
title Trends in Australian adolescents' sun-protection behaviours: Implications for health campaigns
title_full Trends in Australian adolescents' sun-protection behaviours: Implications for health campaigns
title_fullStr Trends in Australian adolescents' sun-protection behaviours: Implications for health campaigns
title_full_unstemmed Trends in Australian adolescents' sun-protection behaviours: Implications for health campaigns
title_short Trends in Australian adolescents' sun-protection behaviours: Implications for health campaigns
title_sort trends in australian adolescents' sun-protection behaviours: implications for health campaigns
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/7536