Indoor tanning is associated with substance use behaviors among adolescents
Abstract Introduction Adolescents increase their skin cancer risk through exposure to ultraviolet radiation, tanning, and poor use of sun-safety practices. Past studies documented that adolescent indoor tanning is associated with substance use. However, these did not examine e-cigarette use as many...
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BMC
2025-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23630-2 |
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| author | Nathan Shen Suzanne L. Fastner Xuechen Wang Ben J. Brintz Chelsey R. Schlechter Yelena P. Wu |
| author_facet | Nathan Shen Suzanne L. Fastner Xuechen Wang Ben J. Brintz Chelsey R. Schlechter Yelena P. Wu |
| author_sort | Nathan Shen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Introduction Adolescents increase their skin cancer risk through exposure to ultraviolet radiation, tanning, and poor use of sun-safety practices. Past studies documented that adolescent indoor tanning is associated with substance use. However, these did not examine e-cigarette use as many were conducted prior to their widespread popularity nor were most studies focused on areas with high environmental risk for skin cancer. The present study examined the current relationship between indoor tanning and substance use, including e-cigarettes, in an area with high skin cancer burden. Methods Data for the current study stem from a statewide survey of middle and high school students in a high melanoma burden state of the United States (N = 22,141). The survey assessed student’s reported indoor tanning, alcohol use, cigarette smoking, and e-cigarette and marijuana usage. Results Across all student participants, 3.5% reported indoor tanning one or more times in the past 12 months. Weighted chi-square tests revealed statistically significant associations between indoor tanning and other health risk behaviors (p < 0.001). Specifically, higher alcohol consumption, e-cigarette use, marijuana use, and cigarette use were all significantly associated with more frequent indoor tanning. Female and older adolescents were more likely to report indoor tanning. Conclusions Indoor tanning among adolescents is associated with increased odds of engaging in substance use behaviors, including e-cigarette use. Health interventions for adolescents may benefit from addressing multiple health risk behaviors concurrently and targeting adolescents most in need for health interventions. Future work to better understand the common mechanisms underlying co-occurring health risk behaviors could inform development of such interventions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e4b7c1cf69a84622927ab652dd222283 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-e4b7c1cf69a84622927ab652dd2222832025-08-20T03:46:20ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-07-012511910.1186/s12889-025-23630-2Indoor tanning is associated with substance use behaviors among adolescentsNathan Shen0Suzanne L. Fastner1Xuechen Wang2Ben J. Brintz3Chelsey R. Schlechter4Yelena P. Wu5Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of UtahHuntsman Cancer Institute, University of UtahDepartment of Population Health Sciences, University of UtahDivision of Epidemiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of UtahHuntsman Cancer Institute, University of UtahHuntsman Cancer Institute, University of UtahAbstract Introduction Adolescents increase their skin cancer risk through exposure to ultraviolet radiation, tanning, and poor use of sun-safety practices. Past studies documented that adolescent indoor tanning is associated with substance use. However, these did not examine e-cigarette use as many were conducted prior to their widespread popularity nor were most studies focused on areas with high environmental risk for skin cancer. The present study examined the current relationship between indoor tanning and substance use, including e-cigarettes, in an area with high skin cancer burden. Methods Data for the current study stem from a statewide survey of middle and high school students in a high melanoma burden state of the United States (N = 22,141). The survey assessed student’s reported indoor tanning, alcohol use, cigarette smoking, and e-cigarette and marijuana usage. Results Across all student participants, 3.5% reported indoor tanning one or more times in the past 12 months. Weighted chi-square tests revealed statistically significant associations between indoor tanning and other health risk behaviors (p < 0.001). Specifically, higher alcohol consumption, e-cigarette use, marijuana use, and cigarette use were all significantly associated with more frequent indoor tanning. Female and older adolescents were more likely to report indoor tanning. Conclusions Indoor tanning among adolescents is associated with increased odds of engaging in substance use behaviors, including e-cigarette use. Health interventions for adolescents may benefit from addressing multiple health risk behaviors concurrently and targeting adolescents most in need for health interventions. Future work to better understand the common mechanisms underlying co-occurring health risk behaviors could inform development of such interventions.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23630-2Indoor tanningSkin cancerSubstance useHealth risk behaviors |
| spellingShingle | Nathan Shen Suzanne L. Fastner Xuechen Wang Ben J. Brintz Chelsey R. Schlechter Yelena P. Wu Indoor tanning is associated with substance use behaviors among adolescents BMC Public Health Indoor tanning Skin cancer Substance use Health risk behaviors |
| title | Indoor tanning is associated with substance use behaviors among adolescents |
| title_full | Indoor tanning is associated with substance use behaviors among adolescents |
| title_fullStr | Indoor tanning is associated with substance use behaviors among adolescents |
| title_full_unstemmed | Indoor tanning is associated with substance use behaviors among adolescents |
| title_short | Indoor tanning is associated with substance use behaviors among adolescents |
| title_sort | indoor tanning is associated with substance use behaviors among adolescents |
| topic | Indoor tanning Skin cancer Substance use Health risk behaviors |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23630-2 |
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