Transcript Schumacher.Richardson.NCUR.Poster2x

Jessica Schumacher & Rhonda Richardson
Advised by: Dr. Susan Wolfgram
University of Wisconsin - Stout
IMPLICATIONS FOR FUTURE
PRACTITIONERS
RESEARCH PROBLEM
-Skin cancer from ultraviolet rays is one of the
most common forms of cancer; despite the
health risks, college students continue exposing
themselves to these harmful rays to improve
their appearance.
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
METHODS
Social Exchange Theory
- Assumes the outcome of human interactions–based on
a cost- benefit analysis (Della Ripa & Carrasco, 2007)
-Predicted that friends and social networks have a
greater influence on the decision to tan while ignoring
the warning signs of UV rays.
-Individuals who tan are more concerned with the
reward tanning gives than the cost that is involved.
INDEPENDENT T-TEST
Gender
TABLE
Participants: 92 male and female college students from a
university
Research Design: Non-random pilot study, Cross sectional,
purposive sampling design
Data Collection Instrument: IRB approved, informed by
literature & theory, implied consent, Self administered
surveys given to male and female college students in
general education courses and explained implied consent
Data Analysis Plan: Analyzed data using Statistical Package for
the Social Sciences (SPSS); Cross-tabulations, meancomparisons, independent t-tests, and a reliability analysis:
Cronbach’s Alpha.
HYPOTHESIS
-The researchers hypothesized Females would
respond that they engage in tanning more
frequently than males to improve their
appearance while aware of the health risks. This
hypothesis was based on both literature and
theory.
PURPOSE
1.Examine the factors driving the younger
population to continue to put their health at
risk with a sample of male and female college
students
2.Develop a reliable survey instrument to
measure the gender differences toward
tanning
3.To increase the awareness of college health
center professionals to encourage young
adults to place a higher value on their health
rather than appearance.
Variable
Males
Females
t
IFL
1.250
(.543)
1.827
(.810)
-4.081
88.505 **0.000
COM
1.850
(1.189)
3.019
(1.488)
-4.189
89.854 **0.000
APR
3.075
(1.309)
3.865
(1.189)
-3.026
90
**0.003
PRF
2.025
(1.165)
1.577
(0.750)
2.177
62.925
*0.038
RSK
2.275
(1.219)
3.385
(1.087)
-4.602
90
**0.000
LITERATURE REVIEW
Cox et al. (2009) stated that whatever society
perceives as attractive, whether tanned pale
bodies, determined the intentions to tan,
regardless of the health risks.
Pettijohn II, Pettijohn, & Geschke, (2009)
examined the changes in tanning attitudes and
behaviors over a ten year time period to
determine if student attitudes towards tanning
have changed.
Bagdasarov, Banerjee, Greene, & Campo (2008)
examined factors that predicted the use of
tanning beds by college students’ related to
personality, environment, and behavior.
Cafri et al. (2008) studied the socio-cultural
influences to tan. General Appearance, acne, and
body shape all influence the decision to tan.
Mosher et al. (2006) examined the factors that
have the biggest influences on college students
‘desire to put themselves at risk for cancer to be
perceived as more attractive.
df
Sig.
Note: (IFL)=My friends encourage me to tan; (COM) =My
friends compliment my tan; (APR) =I look more attractive with
a suntan than without a suntan; (PRF) =It is important for my
boyfriend/girlfriend to have a suntan; (RSK) =I am concerned
about getting skin cancer from exposure to UV rays.
*significant @ p<=.05, **significant @p<=.01, two tailed.
Standard deviations appear in parenthesis below means.
RESULTS
• Variables FRQ and AWN supported the hypothesis: females
engage in tanning more frequently than males to improve
their appearance while aware of the health risks.
• Both males and females agreed that females engage in sun
tanning behavior more frequently than males and that they
were aware of the risks involved with UV
•Majority of males disagreed that they are concerned about
getting skin cancer from exposure to UV rays and that their
friends compliment their tan (COM).
• Majority of females agreed that their friends compliment
their tan (Mosher & Danoff-Burg, 2005), and are concerned
about getting skin cancer (RSK), yet continue to tan (Cox et
al., 2009).
• The participants disagreed that friends encourage them to
tan (IFL) (Cafri et al., 2008)., and that they prefer their
partner to be tan (PRE).
• If an individual’s partner engaged in tanning behavior, then
they are more likely to engage in tanning behavior (Mosher &
Danoff-Burg, 2005).
•Variables FRQ and AWN supported the hypothesis
Providing more education that increases awareness
of the importance of protecting skin from
harmful ultraviolet rays in middle and high school
health education classes.
Providing this information and results to college
health care facilities can help increase awareness
and knowledge of the harmful effects of
ultraviolet ray exposure and prevention methods
IMPLICATIONS FOR FUTURE
RESEARCH
• If the same survey were to be used:
• Add questions and/or statements asking
participants that have tanned, if they did so
because of an occasion coming up, such as prom,
a vacation, a wedding, etc.
• Use several different study designs.
• Comparing groups based on gender might be
more beneficial when comparing those
individuals that already tan.
• Conduct a longitudinal study to see how the
perceptions change as an individual becomes
more/less concerned with his/her health.
CONCLUSION
• Male college students do not perceive
themselves as attractive with a tan than female
college students therefore, males have no
concern about getting skin cancer.
• Females are more likely to have sociological
influences such as friends and the media to
increase their desire to tan; because the media
portrays tanned bodies as attractive and
acceptable, this is influencing the female
population to tan in order to feel beautiful or
socially accepted.
• Increasing support for healthy bodies rather than
tanned bodies can influence an individual to
make better life-long decisions.