Randomized Trial of a Sun Safety Intervention for Young Adults

Summary

The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to test the efficacy of a dissonance induction intervention compared to a control group on tanning in 278 young adult tanners. The primary outcome will be tanning at 3-months. Secondary outcomes include tanning at 15-months and sunburn and sun protection use 3- and 15-months post-intervention. The main question it aims to answer is whether the intervention reduces tanning and sunburns and increases use of sunscreen among young adults who tan. Participants will be incentivized to develop sun safety and anti-tanning messaging for a social media campaign and to recruit their social ties to engage with those messages. They will then be asked to complete surveys on tanning and sun protection at baseline, 3-, and 15 months. They will also complete monthly surveys to report sunburns. The dissonance induction intervention is based on a highly effective and internationally disseminated eating disorder prevention program that has reached over 3.5 million people around the world.

Conditions

• Sunburn

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Healthy Skin

Participants will be instructed to create up to 12 social media posts during the 6-week social media campaign (maximum of 2/week). Participants will receive incentives for the posts they create and be entered into a weekly contest based on the posts that attracted the most engagement on study feeds and their personal feeds. Participants will be instructed to create social media posts that encourage young adults like them to challenge the "tanned skin ideal" portrayed by the media, protect their skin from UVR, avoid tanning, use sun protection, and communicate body positivity. We will explain how tan ideals are perpetuated by the media, how the 'tan ideal' gets internalized and makes people feel worse about their bodies, how the focus on achieving a tan negatively impacts body satisfaction, and how body positivity pertains to all skin types. They will be encouraged to incorporate these ideas in their posts and to role model sun safety.

BEHAVIORAL

Healthy Lifestyle

Participants will be instructed to create up to 12 social media posts during the 6-week social media campaign (maximum of 2/week). Participants will receive incentives for the posts they create and be entered into a weekly contest based on the posts that attracted the most engagement on study feeds and their personal feeds. Participants will be instructed to create social media posts that encourage young adults like them to consume a healthy diet (e.g., 5 servings of fruit and vegetables, eliminate sugary beverages), get moderate intensity exercise for 150 minutes per week, get 7-8 hours of sleep per night, and engage in stress management. They will receive guidance on healthy lifestyle targets and how these lifestyle behaviors prevent disease.They will be encouraged to incorporate these ideas in their posts and to role model these healthy lifestyle behaviors.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Cancer Institute (NCI)

  collaborator NIH

• University of Connecticut

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Sherry Pagoto, PhD · University of Connecticut

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

30 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2027-02-01

Primary Completion

2030-11-30

Completion

2030-11-30