Beliefs and intentions for skin protection and UV exposure in young adults

Objective: To evaluate Fishbein’s integrative model in predicting young adults’ skin protection, sun exposure, and indoor tanning intentions.

Methods: Two hundred twelve participants completed an online survey.

Results: Damage distress, self-efficacy, and perceived control accounted for 34% of the variance in skin protection intentions. Outcome beliefs and low self-efficacy for sun avoidance accounted for 25% of the variance in sun exposure intentions. Perceived damage, outcome evaluation, norms, and indoor tanning prototype accounted for 32% of the variance in indoor tanning intentions.

Conclusions: Future research should investigate whether these variables predict exposure and protection behaviors and whether intervening can reduce young adults’ skin cancer risk behaviors.