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Sun exposure in Australian adolescents.
L Fritschi1, A Green, P J Solomon
1National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
|July 1, 1992
Summary
Australian adolescents spend significant time outdoors on weekends, often exceeding 2 hours during peak ultraviolet periods. They frequently neglect sun protection like hats and sunscreen, indicating a need for improved sun safety education programs.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Adolescent Health
- Dermatology
Background:
- Limited data exists on adolescent sun-related behaviors.
- Significant resources are allocated to reducing teen sun exposure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize sun exposure patterns in Australian adolescents.
- To identify predictors of sun protection use among teenagers.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involved 972 Australian students aged 13-15.
- Participants documented sun exposure and protection use over two consecutive weekends.
- Data was collected from urban and rural locations.
Main Results:
- Over 80% of boys and 60% of girls spent >2 hours outdoors during peak ultraviolet (UV) times.
- Shirts were commonly worn, but hats and sunscreen use were infrequent (<50% of the time).
- Hat use was associated with being male and living rurally; sunscreen use correlated with easy sunburn and higher UV knowledge.
Conclusions:
- Adolescents exhibit prolonged sun exposure on weekends, disregarding sun protection guidelines.
- High variability in adolescent sun protection behavior complicates the development of effective educational interventions.