The Effect of Initial Indoor Tanning With Mother on Current Tanning Patterns

T he International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified indoor tanning as carcinogenic to humans. Indoor tanning by those 35 years and younger increases melanoma risk by 75%. Still, recent population-based studies reveal that 10% of youths aged 11 to 18 years and 8% to 14% of their primary caregivers have engaged in indoor tanning in the past year. Particularly noteworthy, indoor tanning in the year prior to the survey was 30% among 12to 18year-olds whose caregiver also reported indoor tanning. Supporting these findings, a recent meta-analysis revealed that having a parent or guardian who indoor tanned within the previous year was a significant predictor of current indoor tanning among 11to 18-yearolds (adjusted prevalence odds ratio, 4.18; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.20-7.90). Stryker and colleagues sought to isolate aspects of this influence among mothers and/or female caregivers and their adolescent children aged 14 to 17 years. In addition to behavioral modeling and maternal knowledge and attitudes, the researchers found that the extent of maternal monitoring of and permissiveness toward indoor tanning were significant predictors of teens’ behavior.