Parental Support for Age-based Indoor Tanning Restrictions.

INTRODUCTION

Regulatory agencies, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, are considering policies to ban indoor tanning for youth aged <18 years. Using data from a nationally representative sample, this study assessed parental support for age-based bans as well as less restrictive parental permission requirements.

METHODS

Data came from an online survey completed by 1,244 parents of adolescents aged 11-17 years. Weighted multivariable logistic regression models assessed correlates of supporting an indoor tanning ban for youth aged <18 years. Data collection and analysis occurred in 2016.

RESULTS

Almost two thirds (65%) of parents agreed with indoor tanning bans for youth, with smaller proportions having no opinion (23%) or disagreeing (12%). Support for bans increased with greater perceived harm of indoor tanning for adolescents (OR=2.66, 95% CI=1.97, 3.59) and decreased with greater perceived benefits (OR=0.49, 95% CI=0.36, 0.67). Compared with support for bans, support for parental permission requirements was somewhat higher, with 79% of parents agreeing with the policy. Most parents (60%) agreed with both policies; only 4% disagreed with both.

CONCLUSIONS

Age-based indoor tanning restrictions, including bans, engender broad-based support among parents. Communicating the harm of indoor tanning may facilitate the implementation of these policies.