An investigation of the influence of "alternate" prototypes on incidental sun exposure in a high-risk region
Morris, K., and Swinbourne, A. (2016) An investigation of the influence of "alternate" prototypes on incidental sun exposure in a high-risk region. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 23 (Suppl 1). S137-S137.
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Abstract
Introduction: There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that prototype perceptions are associated with both motivation to engage in, and actual performance of various health behaviors. The current study adopts the prototype willingness (PW) model as a framework for predicting incidental exposure in an extreme ultra-violet radiation (UVR) environment. Specifically, this study aimed to investigate the influence of actor vs. alternate behavioral prototypes on incidental sun exposure.
Methods: A cohort study was conducted to examine whether community members' (N=231) perceptions of various sun-related prototypes influenced their prospective incidental sun exposure. Behavior was assessed using a comprehensive sun diary, and skin reflectance spectrophotometry was used to measure skin color at baseline and at 1-month follow-up.
Results: A path analysis was conducted to examine the relationships between perceptions of sun protector and incidental prototypes and the performance of incidental sun exposure behaviors. Findings indicated that perceptions surrounding sun protection were related to intentions and willingness to incidentally expose. Specifically, perceived dissimilarity to the typical sun protector was directly associated with greater intentions and willingness to expose, and indirectly associated with greater incidental exposure.
Conclusions: Overall, an 'alternate' behavioral prototype was found to influence incidental sun exposure behavior. Specifically, perceptions of similarity to the typical sun protector were found to impact upon sun exposure. This finding has implications for skin cancer prevention messages in high-risk regions. Future health promotion strategies in such regions should focus on increasing perceptions of similarity to the sun protector prototype in order to target incidental sun exposure.
| Item ID: | 46629 |
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| Item Type: | Article (Abstract) |
| ISSN: | 1532-7558 |
| Keywords: | prototype willingness model, prototype perceptions, incidental sun exposure, dual-process models, sun related behaviours |
| Date Deposited: | 12 Dec 2016 04:08 |
| FoR Codes: | 17 PSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITIVE SCIENCES > 1701 Psychology > 170106 Health, Clinical and Counselling Psychology @ 50% 17 PSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITIVE SCIENCES > 1702 Cognitive Science > 170202 Decision Making @ 50% |
| SEO Codes: | 92 HEALTH > 9204 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) > 920401 Behaviour and Health @ 50% 92 HEALTH > 9202 Health and Support Services > 920205 Health Education and Promotion @ 50% |
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