Tanning behaviors and determinants of solarium use among indoor office workers in Queensland, Australia

J Health Psychol. 2012 Sep;17(6):856-65. doi: 10.1177/1359105311427476. Epub 2011 Nov 30.

Abstract

Using cross-sectional survey data from Brisbane, Australia, this study identifies prevalence and factors associated with indoor tanning in office workers. Over 12-months, 72/2867 (2.5%) survey participants used solaria. Twenty-eight sunbed users (39%) tanned outdoors and used spray-tans and 42 (58%) reported burns after indoor tanning. Results from regression modelling suggests the strongest predictors of sunbed use were beliefs that tanning was safer indoors than outdoors (OR 6.1, 95%CI: 2.6-14.0) and engaging in outdoor tanning (OR 4.1, 95%CI: 1.8-9.0). We recommend that health authorities promote health gains by reducing ultraviolet radiation exposure or substituting indoor tanning with a spray-on tan.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Health Behavior
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Queensland / epidemiology
  • Sunbathing / psychology*
  • Sunbathing / statistics & numerical data
  • Sunburn / epidemiology
  • Sunburn / etiology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Young Adult