Findings from a new study exploring the associations between the reported number of sunburns and sociodemographic characteristics in the U.S. and examining the prevalence of protective skin behaviours reinforce the need for public health interventions that effectively disseminate information on skin cancer risk across ethnic minority groups, especially in underserved communities.
The findings were published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine.
The study was conducted by researchers at Florida Atlantic University’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine.
Using data from the U.S. National Cancer Institute’s 2022 Health Information National Trends Survey 6 (HINTS 6), researchers selected questions focused on respondents’ confidence in their health, perceived cancer risk, worry about getting diagnosed with cancer, and their sunburn experiences from the past year. The investigators included sociodemographic factors, including age, gender, occupational status, marital status, educational level, Hispanic origin, race, and income, in their analysis due to the potential link between these factors and skin cancer risk.
Among the 6,252 participants surveyed, most respondents felt either very confident (44%) or completely confident (27.3%) in their ability to take good care of their health. The findings also showed most respondents had moderate concerns about skin cancer risk. Only 9.1% reported being extremely worried, while the majority were either somewhat (26.6%) or slightly (25.6%) concerned.
For sunburn and skin protection, 67.6% of participants reported no sunburns in the past year, while 30.3% had one to five sunburns. Additionally, 6.4% reported consuming alcohol while sunburned, a known risk factor for increased sunburn incidence. Activities such as drinking alcohol, working outside, or swimming were common among those who reported sunburns.
Using multinomial regression analysis, investigators found statistically significant associations between the number of sunburns and sociodemographic factors. Adults older than 40 had lower sunburn risks, as did women. Disabled, unemployed, and multi-occupation participants reported fewer sunburns. Married or partnered individuals had higher risks of sunburn, while divorced or single participants had lower risks. Higher education levels, being Hispanic, Black, Asian, or of mixed race were linked to lower sunburn risks. Higher-income groups had significantly higher risks of sunburns, with the highest-income group being more than four times more likely to report a sunburn.
“Social determinants such as race/ethnicity, sex, income and employment status are closely linked to sunburn and skin cancer risk,” said the study’s senior author, Lea Sacca, Ph.D., in a press release. “While Hispanics and Black Americans generally report lower rates of sunburn, Hispanics often perceive greater benefits of UV exposure, which increases their risk. Factors such as sex, education, and income also influence sunscreen use, with lower use observed among Black Americans and Hispanic Americans. However, within these groups, women with higher education and income are more likely to use sunscreen. Interestingly, higher income is associated with more frequent sunburns.” Dr. Sacca is an assistant professor in the Department of Population Health and Social Medicine, within the Schmidt College of Medicine.
“Understanding perceptions of skin cancer risk and the prevalence of protective behaviours is vital to reducing the likelihood of developing skin cancer, particularly among vulnerable groups,” said Madison Etzel, first author and a second-year medical student at the Schmidt College of Medicine. “Our study underscores the importance of raising awareness about skin cancer susceptibility as we found that all sociodemographic factors were significantly linked to the number of reported sunburns in the past year. Future research should explore how additional social determinants of health influence sunburn incidence and prevention behaviours. A deeper understanding of these factors is critical to addressing the widespread harms of skin cancer in U.S. adults.”
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