Photoprotective measures among adolescents stratified by region: An analysis utilizing the National College Health Assessment.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Exposure to sunlight has been shown to cause pigmentary alterations, photoaging and photocarcinogenesis. Understanding photoprotective patterns in adolescent populations is beneficial to public health initiatives. We utilized data provided by the American College Health Association's National College Health Assessment to evaluate photoprotective behaviors among adolescent populations.

METHODS

Behavioral questions related to photoprotection were analyzed from the American College Health Association (ACHA) National College Health Assessment (NCHA) (Version III).

RESULTS

When comparing races, Black/African American respondents had the lowest association of practicing photoprotective behaviors in comparison to white respondents (p < .05). When comparing US geographic regions, the south had the lowest association of photoprotective measures (p < .05).

LIMITATIONS: The response rate of each institution varied, although there was still a large quantity of respondents. Finally, we cannot discern the specific reasoning for adolescent populations not using sunscreen.

CONCLUSION

These data identify demographics where efforts to enhance education on photoprotective behaviors, specifically among skin of color and southern population, to support public health initiatives.