Motives of Belgian Adolescents for Using Sunscreen: The Role of Action Plans

Abstract

The first objective of this study was to analyze the differences between adolescents who use sunscreen frequently and those who do not. The second objective was to explore the importance of specific action plans when planning sunscreen use. Data was gathered among 602 Belgian secondary school students. Frequent and infrequent users of sunscreen were compared on several determinants related with sunscreen use, and a regression analysis on sunscreen use was done. Frequent users of sunscreen measures had significantly higher scores on attitudes, social influence, self-efficacy, some awareness factors, intention, and action plans. The integrated model for exploring motivational and behavioral change (I-Change model) explained 57% of the total variance of using sunscreen every 2 hours. Frequent sunscreen use was most strongly predicted by action plans, followed by positive intentions to use sunscreen, wearing protective clothing, seeking shade, attitude toward sunscreen use, education, social influence, and exposure to the sun. Our results suggest that skin cancer prevention programs aimed at promoting sunscreen use need to emphasize the advantages of sunscreen to infrequent users and to increase feelings of self-efficacy. Moreover, support by friends and parents should be stimulated. Finally, developing specific action plans for the use of sunscreen should be promoted to more effectively translate general intentions into actual sunscreen use. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2006;15(7):1360 -6)

Exploring the Efficacy and Moderators of Two Computer-Tailored Physical Activity Interventions for Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…The determinants on which the programs focused were selected based on the results of a Delphi study [24], and a literature review [14] on the determinants of changing PA behavior among older adults. Based on theoretical models such as the such as the I-Change model [25], the Transtheoretical model [26], the Health Action Process Approach [27], the Precaution Adoption Process Model [28], the Self-regulation theory [29], and the Self-determination theory [30] and on additional focus group interviews [18], theoretical methods and intervention strategies were selected and included into the computer-tailoring program. The content of the tailored interventions has been described in more detail elsewhere [18], and is briefly described below.…”

Testing the effectiveness of a skin cancer narrative in promoting positive health behavior: A pilot study

“…Socio-psychological models of health behavior have proposed several other variables which can inhibit or enhance skin cancer prevention and detection, such as risk perception, attitudes and efficacy (e.g. de Vries et al, 2005Vries et al, , 2006. Future experiments should analyze the interactions between these variables and the message evidence conditions.…”

Predicting parental sunscreen use: Disentangling the role of action planning in the intention–behavior relationship

“…His concept of implementation intentions is built upon this mental act of linking goal-directed behaviors to anticipated situations, a principle that is also reflected in the action planning cognition described by Sniehotta and colleagues (Sniehotta, Scholz, & Schwarzer, 2005aSniehotta, Schwarzer, Scholz, & Schuz, 2005b). The proposition that planning can have a significant positive impact on health behavior is evidenced by an accumulating body of research (de Vries, Mesters, van 't Riet, Willems, & Reubsaet, 2006a;Luszczynska & Schwarzer, 2003;Sheeran, Milne, Webb, & Gollwitzer, 2005a;Sniehotta et al, 2006). However, relatively little is known about how this impact comes about, in other words, how the main factors in the volitional phase (intention and planning) cooperate to achieve behavior change.…”