Jordan Amy B, Bleakley Amy, Alber Julia M, Lazovich DeAnn, Glanz Karen
Amy B. Jordan, Professor, School of Communication and Information, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ;, Email:
Amy Bleakley, Professor, Department of Communication, University of Delaware, Newark, DE.
Am J Health Behav. 2020 May 1;44(3):292-301. doi: 10.5993/AJHB.44.3.2.
Indoor tanning, which is most common among 18-25-year-old white women, increases the risk of skin cancer. To address this problem, we developed and tested messages with a national sample of indoor tanners to determine beliefs that would encourage them to quit. Messages discouraging indoor tanning using different persuasive themes (skin cancer risk, appearance risk, well-being enhancement) were developed based on formative research and a review of intervention efforts. We conducted an online experiment to test the final messages with a national sample of 480 indoor tanners. Messages that emphasized skin cancer risk out-performed messages that focused on well-being enhancement or damage to appearance in terms of intention to quit indoor tanning. Analyses revealed 2 key mediators: perceived argument strength and beliefs related to the effects of indoor tanning. Theory- and evidence-informed public health communications can contribute to improving health-related behaviors. Focusing on the risk of skin cancer may be the most effective strategy to reduce indoor tanning among young white women.
室内晒黑在18至25岁的白人女性中最为常见，会增加患皮肤癌的风险。为了解决这一问题，我们针对全国范围内的室内晒黑者样本开发并测试了相关信息，以确定能够鼓励她们停止室内晒黑的信念。基于前期形成性研究和对干预措施的综述，我们制定了使用不同说服主题（皮肤癌风险、外貌风险、增进幸福感）来劝阻室内晒黑的信息。我们进行了一项在线实验，用全国范围内480名室内晒黑者的样本对最终信息进行测试。在停止室内晒黑的意愿方面，强调皮肤癌风险的信息比关注增进幸福感或对外貌损害的信息表现更好。分析揭示了两个关键中介因素：感知到的论据强度以及与室内晒黑影响相关的信念。基于理论和证据的公共卫生宣传有助于改善与健康相关的行为。关注皮肤癌风险可能是减少年轻白人女性室内晒黑的最有效策略。
