Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2022 Aug 10:67:1604716.
doi: 10.3389/ijph.2022.1604716. eCollection 2022.

Influence of Social and Psychosocial Factors on Summer Vacationers' Sun Protection Behaviors, the PRISME Study, France

Cécile Durand  1   2 , Anaïs Lamy  1 , Jean-Baptiste Richard  3 , Leïla Saboni  3 , Florence Cousson-Gélie  4   5 , Olivier Catelinois  1 , Apolline Bord  4 , Benoit Lepage  2 , Damien Mouly  1 , Cyrille Delpierre  2
Affiliations

Influence of Social and Psychosocial Factors on Summer Vacationers' Sun Protection Behaviors, the PRISME Study, France

Cécile Durand et al. Int J Public Health. .

Abstract

Objectives: Summer intermittent sun exposure is a major risk factor for melanoma. Socioeconomic position, cognitive and psychosocial factors play a role in sun protection behaviors but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. This study aimed to measure the influence of educational level on sun protection behaviors in French summer vacationers on the Mediterranean coastline, and to identify the mediating psychosocial factors in this pathway. Methods: In summer 2019, French vacationers aged 12-55 staying in coastline campsites were asked about their holiday sun protection behaviors, their knowledge, attitudes, perceived control, and social norm relative to sun protection. A structural equation model measured the direct and indirect effects of educational level on protection behaviors via cognitive and psychosocial factors. Results: Sun protection during vacation increased with educational level. Theoretical knowledge partially mediated this association, from 22% to 86%, particularly for intermediate educational levels. Conclusion: Our results highlight the importance of implementing suitable sun prevention interventions for vacationers, especially those with a lower socioeconomic position. Improving theoretical knowledge around sun protection may be an important part of broader efforts to encouraging improved preventive behaviors.

Keywords: psychosocial factors; socioeconomic position; structural equation modelling; sun protection, behavior; theory of planned behavior; ultraviolet exposure; vacationers.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Conceptual model to analyze the mediation paths between educational level and sun protection behaviors - PRISME, France, 2019.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Effects of educational level on sun protection behaviors via cognitive and psychosocial factors, estimated using a structural equation model† (n = 1,267)–PRISME, France, 2019.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Arnold M, Kvaskoff M, Thuret A, Guénel P, Bray F, Soerjomataram I. Cutaneous Melanoma in France in 2015 Attributable to Solar Ultraviolet Radiation and the Use of Sunbeds. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol (2018) 32(10):1681–6. 10.1111/jdv.15022 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Erdmann F, Lortet-Tieulent J, Schüz J, Zeeb H, Greinert R, Breitbart EW, et al. International Trends in the Incidence of Malignant Melanoma 1953-2008-are Recent Generations at Higher or Lower Risk? Int J Cancer (2013) 132(2):385–400. 10.1002/ijc.27616 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Ferlay J, Colombet M, Soerjomataram I, Mathers C, Parkin DM, Piñeros M, et al. Estimating the Global Cancer Incidence and Mortality in 2018: GLOBOCAN Sources and Methods. Int J Cancer (2019) 144(8):1941–53. 10.1002/ijc.31937 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Defossez G, Uhry Z, Grosclaude P, Colonna M, Dantony E, Delafosse P, et al. Estimations nationales de l’incidence et de la mortalité par cancer en France métropolitaine entre 1990 et 2018. Saint-Maurice (Fra) : Santé publique France (2019) 1:372.
    1. Dervault AM, Secretan B, Guinot C. Ultraviolets. Etat des connaissances sur l'exposition et les risques sanitaires. Maisons-Alfort: Agence Française de Sécurité Sanitaire Environnementale; (2005).

Substances