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ERIC Number: EJ794295
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008
Pages: 5
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0744-8481
EISSN: N/A
Psychosocial Factors Associated with Skin Self-Exam Performance
Jensen, Jakob D.; Moriarty, Cortney M.
Journal of American College Health, v56 n6 p701-705 May-Jun 2008
Objective: The authors examined psychosocial factors associated with skin self-exam (SSE) performance by young adults. Participants and Methods: The authors administered surveys to 218 US college students (aged 18-26 years) attending a large midwestern university. Results: Contrary to prior research, men (44%) and women (49%) were relatively similar in the frequency with which they performed at least 1 SSE in the previous year. In addition, neither gender was particularly diligent at checking all 6 areas of the body (i.e., arms or hands, front torso, head or neck, legs or feet, back torso, and sides or armpits); they especially overlooked body areas identified by dermatologists as high risk. For men, a behavioral belief (do not think about performing) and a normative belief (descriptive norm) significantly predicted SSE performance. For women, 2 behavioral beliefs (do not think about performing, do not know what to look for), a normative belief (descriptive norm), and bodily discomfort (uncomfortable looking at body) significantly predicted SSE performance. Conclusions: SSE campaigns should target awareness, symptoms to look for, descriptive norms, and bodily discomfort. In addition, health communicators should encourage men and women to more thoroughly examine high-risk areas of their bodies, which are routinely overlooked. (Contains 2 tables.)
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A