Sun safety in young Queensland adults: behaviours, knowledge, and responses to health-based and appearance-based text messages
Creators: name: Bodenmann, Samuel
name: Caltabiano, Marie L.
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2024
Subjects: subject: Biotechnology
subject: Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Cancer
subject: Mental Health
subject: Plant Biology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Computational Biology

description: High melanoma rates in Queensland, Australia suggest that sun protection campaign message content may require revision. The aim of this experimental study was to explore young Queensland adults’ sun-related exposure and knowledge level, before investigating the effectiveness of five health text messages at improving sun protection intentions. Ninety-five young adults aged 17 to 24 years participated in the study. Most content was modelled on Protection Motivation Theory. The texts allowed for the comparison of fear appeals with and without efficacy messages, health-versus appearance-based messages, and the exploration of understudied, appearance-based message content alluding to melanoma surgery scarring. Proportionally, significantly more females (60.34%) sunbathed compared to males [26.47%, χ<sup>2</sup> (1, <i>n</i> = 92) = 8.55, <i>p</i> = .003, phi = -.33], and females (<i>M</i> = 16.03) had significantly greater knowledge levels than males [<i>M</i> = 12.81, t(89), −.3.99, <i>p</i> &lt; .001, η<sup>2</sup> = .01]. There was no difference between health and appearance-based messages on participants’ sun protection intentions as assessed by the Protection Motivation Theory <i>χ</i><sup><i>2</i></sup> (5, <i>n</i> = 94) = 2.97, <i>p</i> = .704. Future research should contribute to the debates surrounding fear appeals and health-versus appearance-based messages with different communication modalities. Health promotion campaigns on sun protection should target message content to audiences. <b>What this topic adds:</b>Text messages may not be robust enough to distinguish between the effects of appearance and health-based information in determining sun-protective behaviours.Knowledge about melanoma does not deter young females from sunbathing.More robust health communication approaches than health text messages are required for testing the Protection Motivation Theory in predicting sun protective behaviours in samples of young adults with high health literacy. Text messages may not be robust enough to distinguish between the effects of appearance and health-based information in determining sun-protective behaviours. Knowledge about melanoma does not deter young females from sunbathing. More robust health communication approaches than health text messages are required for testing the Protection Motivation Theory in predicting sun protective behaviours in samples of young adults with high health literacy. <b>What is already known about this topic:</b>Queensland Australia is one of the most melanoma susceptible regions of the world.Many young Australian adults are not practicing sun safety.Appearance-based approaches are bett er at persuading younger people to protect against the sun than health-based ones. Queensland Australia is one of the most melanoma susceptible regions of the world. Many young Australian adults are not practicing sun safety. Appearance-based approaches are bett er at persuading younger people to protect against the sun than health-based ones.