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. 1997 Jul;87(7):1214–1217. doi: 10.2105/ajph.87.7.1214

Sunbathing habits and sunscreen use among white adults: results of a national survey.

H K Koh 1, S M Bak 1, A C Geller 1, T W Mangione 1, R W Hingson 1, S M Levenson 1, D R Miller 1, R A Lew 1, J Howland 1
PMCID: PMC1380901  PMID: 9240117

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed current levels of sunbathing and sunscreen use in the United States. METHODS: From a general-population telephone survey of aquatic activities among adults in 3042 US households, we examined responses by the 2459 Whites. RESULTS: Most adults (59%) reported sunbathing during the past year, and 25% reported frequent sunbathing. Of the subsample who reported sunbathing during the month before the interview, 47% routinely used sunscreen. Of these individuals, almost half did not use sunscreens with a solar protection factor of 15 or higher. CONCLUSIONS: About a quarter of US White adults report frequent sunbathing, and only about a quarter of sunbathers use sunscreens at recommended levels. These results should help focus future sun protection educational efforts.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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