A survey of 14 to 16 year olds as to their attitude toward and use of sunbeds

Abstract

Objective Sunbeds pose a potential risk to health. Although not recommended for children under 16 years of age they are used by this age group. The purpose of this study was to assess the awareness of suntanning guidelines, the use of sunbeds and the attitude towards tanning in children aged between 14 and 16 years. Design and method 499 pupils aged 14 to 16 years responded to a questionnaire survey in two schools in a mixed urban part of Merseyside. Results Overall, sunbeds had been used by 43 per cent of pupils. Girls had used them much more than boys with use increasing by age for both sexes. Overall, 65 per cent said they were aware of guidelines. About half thought that guidelines advising people how often to use a sunbed were a good thing. One in 10 of those using a sunbed also said they had had problems with their eyes or skin. Most boy and girl users thought using sunbeds made them look healthy, made them more attractive and confident, that they created a base tan before a holiday and that they were a good treatment for spots. Conclusion There is considerable awareness of sunbed guidelines; however, sunbed use in the under 16 year age group remains high. This poses a public health issue and better education and enforcement strategies are required.

Sunbed Use, Attitudes, and Knowledge After the Under-18s Ban

“…8 Supporting previous findings, users were more likely to be female 7,8,19 and have family or friends who use sunbeds. 7,19,20 Notwithstanding the legislation, adolescents in Sandwell were still using sunbeds. A recent inspection using the underage secret shopper scheme in Wales and Sandwell found that 32% of tanning salons visited did not check the customers' age.…”

“…However, the attitudes and knowledge of participants in this study may be shared by adolescents of the wider population as related findings were similar to previous studies. 7,10,11 Although data on social grade were not collected, this was assumed to be similar throughout the sample as Sandwell is a uniformly deprived area. 12 The proportion of white ethnic group was lower than that of the Sandwell population (67% vs 77%).…”

“…5 Despite the clear evidence of harm, children have been reported to use sunbeds. [6][7][8] Consequently, the Sunbeds Regulation Act 2010 was implemented in April 2011 to ban use in under-18s. 9 However, the legislation only bans provision in commercial settings.…”

Health behaviours associated with indoor tanning based on the 2012/13 Manitoba Youth Health Survey

“…The NSS2 also found that indoor tanning is more common among females, particularly young women, a finding echoed by research conducted elsewhere. [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] Fewer studies, however, have explored the sex differences in behaviours to do with indoor tanning. [16][17][18]21,24 Robust crosssectional and longitudinal surveys about indoor tanning behaviours are rare, no less so than in Canada.…”

“…25 Indoor tanning is also correlated with smoking and susceptibility to smoking, binge drinking and drug use. 12,13,16,18,[20][21][22]24,26 It may be that adolescents who tan indoors are more susceptible to engage in risk behaviours despite the risks being well documented. The association between indoor tanning and risk behaviours that are unrelated to appearance enhancement suggests that some engage in these behaviours for other purposes, such as to cope with anxiety.…”