Attitudes and Behaviors That Impact Skin Cancer Risk among Men

Gabrielle J. Adams, Elianna K. Goldstein, Beth G. Goldstein, Kristen L. Jarman and Adam O. Goldstein
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Gabrielle J. Adams: College of Arts and Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
Elianna K. Goldstein: Skinvest, Inc., Chapel Hill, NC 27517, USA
Beth G. Goldstein: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
Kristen L. Jarman: Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
Adam O. Goldstein: Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 19, 1-9

Abstract: Despite substantially higher skin cancer risks, little research has investigated men’s attitudes about skin cancer and how those attitudes relate to their risks of developing skin cancer. This study aims to close the gap in research, regarding men’s perceptions and behaviors about skin cancer, sun exposure, and tanning. This study utilized a cross-sectional survey of 705 men recruited from Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk), reporting attitudes and behaviors towards sun exposure, tanning, and sun protection. While the majority of men reported large daily outdoor activities, that their skin frequently burns with sun exposure, and riskier perceptions of tanning, only a minority reported daily use of sunscreen or most other sun protective behaviors. More sun protection methods were associated with more frequent use of sunscreen and less positive tanning perceptions. Men consistently engaged in high-risk behaviors for developing skin cancer, but they did not engage highly in protective behaviors to mitigate their risk. The findings can help improve clinical and public health interventions to lower men’s risk of skin cancer with strong messages about sunscreen use and sun protective methods.

Keywords: sunscreen; men; prevention; behavior; skin cancer (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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