Social Cognitive Correlates of Young Adult Sport Competitors’ Sunscreen Use

Abstract

Young adults participating in outdoor sports represent a high-risk group for excessive sun exposure. The purpose of this study was to identify modifiable social cognitive correlates of sunscreen use among young adult competitors. Participants aged 18 to 30 years who competed in soccer ( n = 65), surf-lifesaving ( n = 63), hockey ( n = 61), and tennis ( n = 48) completed a sun habits survey. Almost half ( n = 113) of the participants used sunscreen inadequately and 30% ( n = 70) reported not using sunscreen. In fully adjusted models, social cognitive attributes significantly ( p < .05) associated with inadequate sunscreen use (vs. nonuse) included skin cancer risk perceptions (OR = 0.6, 95% CI = 0.3, 1.0), perceived barriers to sunscreen use (OR = 0.5, 95% CI = 0.3, 0.9), and stronger personal norms for applying sunscreen (OR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.0, 3.2). These findings provide insight into the attributes that enable or inhibit the use of sunscreen among young competitors and as a result may be useful in informing behavior change interventions within the sporting context.