Table 2.

Age-Stratified Correlates of Engaging in Indoor Tanning in the Past Year, 2005 National Health Interview Survey

	Prevalence of Indoor Tanning During the Past Year % ± 95% CI
	Age 18−29 (n = 5,461)	Age 30−39 (n = 5,574)	Age 40−49 (n = 5,737)	Age 50−64 (n = 6,927)	Age 65+ (n = 5,695)
Full sample	20.4 ± 1.3	16.7 ± 1.2	13.6 ± 1.1	9.8 ± 0.9	7.8 ± 0.9
Demographics
Region
Northeast	25.0* ± 4.2	17.8 ± 3.0	14.5 ± 2.6	11.4 ± 2.7	9.7 ± 2.3
Midwest	26.2 ± 2.8	20.4 ± 2.8	15.8 ± 2.5	11.3 ± 2.0	8.2 ± 2.0
South	17.4 ± 1.9	15.4 ± 1.9	12.5 ± 1.9	8.3 ± 1.3	6.0 ± 1.3
West	15.2 ± 2.2	14.0 ± 2.4	12.0 ± 1.8	9.2 ± 1.6	8.7 ± 1.9
Gender
Male	13.2* ± 1.8	11.6* ± 1.4	11.3* ± 1.4	9.3 ± 1.3	8.4 ± 1.3
Female	27.3 ± 1.8	21.9 ± 1.8	15.7 ± 1.5	10.3 ± 1.1	7.3 ± 1.1
Race/ethnicity
Non-Hispanic white	26.6* ± 1.9	21.1* ± 1.7	15.7* ± 1.4	10.5 ± 1.1	7.8 ± 1.0
Non-Hispanic black	5.6 ± 2.0	8.6 ± 2.6	5.0 ± 1.6	5.7 ± 2.2	6.3 ± 3.1
Non-Hispanic other	11.4 ± 4.8	10.1 ± 4.4	12.3 ± 5.0	8.2 ± 4.0	§
Hispanic	12.3 ± 2.2	8.7 ± 2.1	9.2 ± 2.3	9.1 ± 2.5	9.3 ± 4.0
Education level
Some high school or less	14.2* ± 2.5	10.2* ± 2.4	10.7 ± 2.6	7.8 ± 2.0	8.2 ± 1.7
High school graduate	19.4 ± 2.5	16.7 ± 2.3	15.0 ± 1.9	10.5 ± 1.6	8.4 ± 1.5
Some college	24.7 ± 2.3	20.9 ± 2.3	15.0 ± 1.9	11.2 ± 1.8	6.7 ± 1.7
College graduate	20.0 ± 2.8	15.8 ± 1.9	11.9 ± 1.8	8.7 ± 1.5	7.3 ± 1.7
Health Access and Family History
Visited a physician in the last year
Yes	22.9* ± 1.6	18.1* ± 1.4	14.3 ± 1.3	9.8 ± 1.0	7.7 ± 0.9
No	12.6 ± 2.1	11.8 ± 2.2	10.6 ± 2.1	9.6 ± 2.1	8.2 ± 3.8
Skin cancer family history
No skin cancer	20.1 ± 1.3	16.6 ± 1.2	13.3 ± 1.1	9.5 ± 1.0	7.7 ± 0.9
Melanoma	29.1 ± 14.4	15.7 ± 8.4	19.1 ± 7.3	7.8 ± 4.3	§
Non-melanoma	28.6 ± 12.4	17.2 ± 7.7	13.3 ± 5.4	13.9 ± 5.6	§
Unknown type	26.5 ± 11.2	24.8 ± 9.2	16.8 ± 6.4	13.2 ± 4.7	8.8 ± 4.7
Perceived Cancer Risk
Perceived cancer risk compared to others
Less likely	17.1* ± 2.5	14.3 ± 2.1	13.0 ± 1.9	9.2 ± 1.4	7.9 ± 1.3
As likely	20.0 ± 1.8	17.2 ± 1.6	13.2 ± 1.5	10.3 ± 1.3	7.8 ± 1.3
More likely	31.3 ± 4.2	20.2 ± 3.1	16.4 ± 3.0	9.2 ± 2.0	7.7 ± 2.4
Don't know	19.4 ± 5.8	16.2 ± 5.1	12.8 ± 4.6	9.5 ± 2.9	7.4 ± 2.6
Skin Reaction to Sun Exposure
Skin reaction after 1 hour in the sun
Moderate/severe sunburn	24.0* ± 2.9	19.2* ± 2.4	14.5* ± 2.0	9.4* ± 1.5	8.3 ± 1.7
Mild sunburn	25.5 ± 2.9	22.0 ± 2.5	15.7 ± 2.3	12.1 ± 1.8	8.5 ± 2.0
No sunburn	16.6 ± 1.8	12.6 ± 1.5	12.4 ± 1.7	9.5 ± 1.5	7.5 ± 1.4
Do not go out in the sun	4.9 ± 3.4	5.3 ± 3.7	4.7 ± 2.3	5.8 ± 2.3	6.6 ± 1.9
Skin reaction after two weeks in the sun
Sunburn repeatedly/freckle	18.3* ± 3.0	16.6* ± 2.9	11.1* ± 2.3	8.6* ± 1.8	8.4 ± 2.2
Mild tan	19.0 ± 2.4	16.4 ± 2.2	14.4 ± 2.1	9.8 ± 1.6	8.3 ± 1.8
Moderate tan	23.6 ± 2.5	19.8 ± 2.2	15.8 ± 2.0	12.0 ± 1.5	7.5 ± 1.6
Very dark tan	23.0 ± 3.7	13.9 ± 2.8	13.3 ± 2.5	10.6 ± 2.7	7.9 ± 3.1
Do not go out in the sun	4.9 ± 2.9	7.7 ± 3.9	6.6 ± 2.5	4.5 ± 1.7	6.8 ± 1.8
Skin Cancer Risk Behaviors
Number of sunburns in the past year
0	11.9* ± 1.5	10.0* ± 1.2	9.6* ± 1.2	7.1* ± 0.8	5.6* ± 0.8
1	27.9 ± 3.2	25.3 ± 3.2	17.6 ± 2.5	16.2 ± 2.9	14.0 ± 4.3
≥ 2	32.1 ± 3.0	25.1 ± 2.8	21.1 ± 2.9	18.6 ± 3.2	34.7 ± 6.7
Frequency of staying in the shade when out in the sun
Always/most of the time	13.6* ± 2.2	13.0* ± 1.8	10.4* ± 1.6	7.7* ± 1.2	7.9 ± 1.4
Sometimes	21.4 ± 2.1	17.4 ± 1.9	13.7 ± 1.6	10.5 ± 1.4	7.6 ± 1.6
Rarely/never	24.3 ± 2.5	20.4 ± 2.3	17.6 ± 2.2	13.0 ± 1.9	8.9 ± 2.1
Frequency of wearing a hat when out in the sun
Always/most of the time	15.9* ± 3.9	13.2 ± 3.7	9.8 ± 2.6	8.7 ± 1.8	8.2 ± 2.0
Sometimes	12.5 ± 3.6	13.3 ± 3.1	12.8 ± 3.1	10.6 ± 2.2	7.4 ± 2.1
Rarely/never	21.7 ± 1.5	18.1 ± 1.4	14.6 ± 1.3	10.3 ± 1.2	8.3 ± 1.4
Frequency of wearing a long-sleeved shirt when out in the sun
Always/most of the time	12.5* ± 4.0	9.6* ± 3.6	9.0* ± 2.7	7.6 ± 2.1	8.5 ± 1.9
Sometimes	13.0 ± 2.8	12.6 ± 2.6	10.7 ± 2.5	10.2 ± 1.9	8.5 ± 2.3
Rarely/never	22.4 ± 1.6	18.5 ± 1.4	15.1 ± 1.4	10.4 ± 1.2	8.1 ± 1.3
Frequency of wearing long pants when out in the sun
Always/most of the time	15.1* ± 2.1	11.3* ± 2.2	11.1* ± 1.8	7.8* ± 1.4	7.8 ± 1.4
Sometimes	17.7 ± 2.6	16.1 ± 2.3	11.9 ± 2.1	8.5 ± 1.6	8.4 ± 2.3
Rarely/never	24.4 ± 2.0	19.6 ± 1.6	16.0 ± 1.7	12.4 ± 1.5	8.8 ± 1.7
Frequency of sunscreen use when out in the sun
Always/most of the time	26.4* ± 3.0	21.1* ± 2.2	14.7* ± 1.9	11.0 ± 1.5	8.9 ± 1.9
Sometimes	21.3 ± 3.1	18.8 ± 2.7	17.6 ± 2.6	11.4 ± 2.0	8.7 ± 2.5
Rarely/never	17.8 ± 1.7	13.4 ± 1.5	11.5 ± 1.5	9.0 ± 1.3	7.7 ± 1.2
Use sunscreen with sun protection factor ≥ 15
Yes	23.6* ± 2.1	18.9* ± 1.7	14.9 ± 1.5	10.4 ± 1.1	8.8 ± 1.5
No	17.3 ± 1.9	14.2 ± 1.7	12.7 ± 1.7	9.5 ± 1.5	7.6 ± 1.2
Ever had a total skin exam
Yes	29.5 ± 5.5	17.8 ± 3.2	15.1 ± 2.7	10.2 ± 1.9	7.3 ± 1.5
No	19.7 ± 1.4	16.6 ± 1.3	13.2 ± 1.2	9.6 ± 1.1	8.0 ± 1.1
Behavioral Health Risk Factors
Body mass index
Not overweight/obese	22.6 ± 1.8	18.4* ± 2.0	15.5 ± 1.8	11.2 ± 1.6	7.8 ± 1.4
Overweight	18.0 ± 2.4	16.9 ± 2.0	13.4 ± 1.8	9.4 ± 1.3	7.0 ± 1.2
Obese	17.4 ± 2.9	13.4 ± 1.8	10.9 ± 1.9	8.4 ± 1.4	9.1 ± 2.1
Physical activity
None	16.0* ± 2.0	14.0 ± 1.8	11.2* ± 1.7	8.7 ± 1.3	8.4 ± 1.3
Some	23.3 ± 3.2	18.1 ± 2.6	13.7 ± 2.1	10.9 ± 1.8	5.9 ± 1.5
Meet recommendations	22.9 ± 2.1	18.5 ± 1.8	15.7 ± 1.7	10.6 ± 1.4	8.0 ± 1.6
Fruit and vegetable intake
≥ 5 daily servings	17.5* ± 1.9	14.3* ± 1.7	11.5* ± 1.5	10.1 ± 1.4	7.3 ± 1.4
< 5 daily servings	22.9 ± 1.9	18.5 ± 1.6	15.1 ± 1.5	9.6 ± 1.1	7.7 ± 1.1
Smoking status
Current smoker	25.1* ± 2.8	20.1 ± 2.6	13.6 ± 2.0	10.2 ± 1.7	5.9 ± 2.3
Former smoker	23.0 ± 4.3	18.1 ± 3.3	14.8 ± 2.3	9.4 ± 1.6	8.5 ± 1.4
Never smoker	18.2 ± 1.5	15.1 ± 1.4	13.2 ± 1.4	9.8 ± 1.3	7.5 ± 1.2
Alcohol use
Risky drinker	32.6* ± 5.5	17.9 ± 5.6	14.5 ± 4.3	10.2 ± 4.2	9.2 ± 4.6
Not risky drinker	19.5 ± 1.4	16.7 ± 1.2	13.4 ± 1.1	9.8 ± 0.9	7.7 ± 0.9

Note. CI = confidence interval. All percentages are weighted. Data Source: National Center for Health Statistics.²⁵

^§Estimate suppressed due to low reliability (coefficient of variation > 30%)

^*p < .001 for the association between the variable and prevalence of indoor tanning during the past year