Table 3.

Attitudes regarding tanning and sun exposure as predictors of the perceived importance of tanning (n=162)^*

Tanning Attitudes:	Subjects reporting attitudes	Crude OR†
I like a tan because (check all that apply)
I think a tan makes me look thinner	23.3%	1.9 (0.3–10.9)
I just feel more attractive with a tan	66.7%	5.5 (3.0–9.8)
I think a tan makes me look healthier	55.4%	2.2 (1.0–4.4)
I think a tan makes my skin problems less noticeable*	29.4%	0.7 (0.3–1.7)
I use sunlamps, tanning lamps or sunbeds (check all that apply)
…because I feel better with a tan	68.1%	7.5 (3.4–16.7)
…because my friends think I look better with a tan	6.8%	1.8 (0.3–11.3)
…before I know I am going to be in the sun	48.9%	2.2 (0.7–6.5)
…so that I can spend more time in the sun	11.4%	1.8 (0.7–4.9)
…so I don’t need to sunbathe as often	6.8%	0.8 (0.2–3.1)
I feel better with a tan
Disagree or are neutral	10.6%	reference
Agree	89.4%	4.6 (2.8–7.4)
I feel a tan is attractive
Disagree or are neutral	9.0%	reference
Agree	91.0%	15.9 (9.8–25.7)
I feel unattractive when I don’t have a suntan
Disagree or are neutral	59.7%	reference
Agree	40.3%	5.7 (1.6–20.6)
Tanned skin looks more healthy than untanned skin
Disagree or are neutral	34.7%	reference
Agree	65.3%	3.1 (1.7–5.6)
My friends feel a tan is attractive
Neither or disagree	18.6%	reference
Agree	81.4%	4.7 (2.0–10.8)
The media suggests that a tan is attractive.
Disagree or are neutral	14.4%	reference
Agree	85.6%	3.3 (1.5–7.3)

^*Tanning is “very” or “somewhat important” compared to “not important”.

^† Reference group is those not reporting the behavior unless otherwise specified.