The assessment of appearance factors related to intentional uv exposure

• Main Author: Cafri, Guy
• Format: Others
• Published: Scholar Commons 2005
• Subjects: Tanning; Skin cancer; Body image; Sunbathing; Sun-protection; American Studies; Arts and Humanities
• Online Access: http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/2802; http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3801&context=etd

Understanding the motives for sunbathing and indoor tanning is an extremely important public health issue. Skin cancer rates have increased dramatically in recent years and UV exposure via sunbathing and utilization of sun lamps and tanning beds are considered important risk factors. Motives for sunbathing and tanning salon use have been thought to be related to appearance concerns, yet little research has examined the specific tan appearance attitudes that may contribute to use of these behaviors. Two studies were conducted with the aim of assessing distinct attitudes related to a tan appearance. In the first study items were created based on a review of the tanning literature and incorporation of constructs developed in the body image field, which were subsequently subject to exploratory factor analysis on 149 female university student sunbathers/tanning salon users.