Sun-safe behaviour among secondary school students in Australia

John B Lowe; L Perkins; R Borland; W R Stanton; P D Baade; V White; K P Balanda

doi:10.1093/her/15.3.271

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Sun-safe behaviour among secondary school students in Australia

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Sun-safe behaviour among secondary school students in Australia

John B Lowe, L Perkins, R Borland, W R Stanton, P D Baade, V White and K P Balanda

Health Education Research, Vol.15(3), pp.271-281

2000

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/her/15.3.271

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Abstract

Public Health and Health Services

Curriculum and Pedagogy

sun safe behaviour

sun protection

This paper reports data on the first national survey of sun-protection measures of Australian secondary school students. A cross-sectional survey of a representative sample of 23,915 Australian school children in Years 7-12 was conducted in 1993. Students were questioned about usual sun-protection practices, beliefs about skin cancer and suntans, and sunburn history. The results showed differences in sun-protection behaviours as a function of `year level', `gender', `skin type' and `concern about getting cancer' among others. Adolescents who believe there is a lot they can do to avoid skin cancer are more likely to engage in sun-protective behaviours. Males were more likely to wear a cap, yet females tended to use sunscreen. The use of clothing to protect themselves from the sun was higher in males, yet females were more likely to stay mainly in the shade. All behaviours decreased with age. Poorer protective practices were also associated with increased sunburn, except for sunscreen use where the converse was the case. Suntan was still a desire for adolescents. While there is considerable room for improvement in the sun-protection behaviour of adolescents (particularly those in higher grades), most students usually take some precautions. However, by Year 12 (17 and 18 year olds) less than half report usually wearing a hat and just two-thirds reported usual sunscreen usage.

Details

Title: Sun-safe behaviour among secondary school students in Australia
Authors: John B Lowe (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health and Education
L Perkins (Author) - University of Queensland
R Borland (Author) - Anti-Cancer Council of Victoria
W R Stanton (Author) - University of Queensland
P D Baade (Author) - University of Queensland
V White (Author) - Anti-Cancer Council of Victoria
K P Balanda (Author) - University of Queensland
Publication details: Health Education Research, Vol.15(3), pp.271-281
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Date published: 2000
DOI: 10.1093/her/15.3.271
ISSN: 0268-1153
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health and Sport Sciences - Legacy; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99449462002621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Education & Educational Research; Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

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