An Examination of Direct and Indirect Effects of Exposure and Attention to Health Media on Intentions to Avoid Unprotected Sun Exposure

Abstract

Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States, accounting for more than 2 million diagnoses and more than 9,000 deaths annually. A regional online survey of students enrolled at institutions of higher education (N = 1,251) examined (a) associations between health media use and intentions to avoid unprotected sun exposure and (b) theoretically derived health behavior constructs that may mediate the relationship between media use and individuals' decisions to avoid unprotected sun exposure. Individuals with greater exposure and attention to health information in television, magazines, and newspapers had higher intentions to avoid unprotected sun exposure. Multiple mediation models indicated that health behavior constructs collectively mediated the relationship between television use and sun-protective behavioral intentions. Both cumulative and specific indirect mediating effects were observed for the relationship between magazine use and sun-protective behavioral intentions. However, the direction of effects was opposite to the hypothesized direction, due primarily to the association of magazine use with less favorable attitudes about sun protection and reduced behavioral control to avoid unprotected sun exposure. This study provides preliminary evidence for the interrelationships among media use, internal psychological states and cognitions, and health behavior decision making. Future studies should further explicate the mediating processes that account for the relationships between media and health behavior.

A state of the science on influential factors related to sun protective behaviors to prevent skin cancer in adults

“…In a similar study [25], Lovejoy, Riffe, and Lovejoy (2015) examined the relationship between health media usage and intentions to avoid unprotected sun exposure. Participants reported greatest health media exposure and attention to the Internet (mean exposure = 2.7 days, mean attention = 3.0 days), television (me = 1.6, ma = 2.5), magazines (me = 1.2, ma = 2.1), and newspapers (me = 1.1, ma = 2.0).…”

“…Participants reported greatest health media exposure and attention to the Internet (mean exposure = 2.7 days, mean attention = 3.0 days), television (me = 1.6, ma = 2.5), magazines (me = 1.2, ma = 2.1), and newspapers (me = 1.1, ma = 2.0). However, internet use was unrelated to unprotected sun exposure behavioral intentions [25]. It was reported that magazine usage was associated with more negative social attitudes regarding sun protective behavior, and less perceived control to decrease unprotected sun exposure ( p < 0.05, p < 0.001) [25].…”

“…However, internet use was unrelated to unprotected sun exposure behavioral intentions [25]. It was reported that magazine usage was associated with more negative social attitudes regarding sun protective behavior, and less perceived control to decrease unprotected sun exposure ( p < 0.05, p < 0.001) [25].…”

Coverage of skin cancer and recreational tanning in North American magazines before and after the landmark 2006 International Agency for Research on Cancer report

“…Although the promotion of the tanned look as ideal decreased after 2006, it still was common throughout the study timeframe. This may partly explain why researchers have found magazine use to be associated with reduced behavioral control to avoid unprotected UV exposure [ 27 ].…”

Mediation analysis of decisional balance, sun avoidance and sunscreen use in the precontemplation and preparation stages for sun protection

“…Results of an intervention to increase sun protection among adolescents illustrated treatment-to-mediator and mediator-to-behavior effects for the pros of sun protection and the pros of sun exposure as mediators (Adams, Norman, Hovell, Sallis, & Patrick, 2009). Attitudes toward sun protection and behavioral control to avoid unprotected sun exposure mediated the relationship between exposure to health information in television and sun protection behavioral intentions among college students (Lovejoy, Riffe, & Lovejoy, 2015). Jackson and Aiken (2000) reported that intention to sun protection and intention to sunbathe mediated the association between perception (perceived skin cancer risk and perceived benefits of tanning) and sun protection and sunbathing behavior among women.…”