Research / Clinical Summary

Heike Mahler, PhD Project Scientist, Psychology Cancer Prevention & Control Program Contact by Email

Skin cancer is now the most common form of cancer in the United States with approximately 1.3 million new cases diagnosed annually. All three of the major forms of skin cancer (basal cell, squamous cell, and melanoma) have been linked to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sun exposure. The dangers of sun exposure have received considerable attention in recent years, and the American public has demonstrated increased awareness of the harmful effects of the sun. Nevertheless, Americans are continuing to receive large amounts of intentional and unintentional exposure to UV radiation either through sun exposure or from the use of sun lamps. The continued UV radiation exposure without adequate protection and the escalating skin cancer rates, suggest the need for additional approaches to motivating UV protection behaviors.

Much of the existing literature suggests that one of the primary motivators for sunbathing and sunlamp use is appearance enhancement (i.e., individuals of all ages generally report feeling more attractive when they have a tan). Thus, sun protection interventions that emphasize the negative appearance consequences of sun exposure (e.g., photoaging - wrinkles and age spots) might be effective.

Dr. Mahler and her collaborators (James A. Kulik, Meg Gerrard, Fredrick X. Gibbons) are examining the efficacy of an attractiveness-based (rather than health-based) approach to changing sun exposure and sun protection behaviors. Specifically, our basic intervention utilizes photoaging information and UV filtered photographs of participants' faces that reveal the amount of damage they have already sustained. This intervention makes the negative appearance consequences of sun exposure more salient and immediate for participants.

Their previous work demonstrates that this attractiveness-based intervention is quite impactful, and results in greater sun protection behaviors. We are currently in the process of examining a variety of theory-based hypotheses regarding social psychological and cognitive processes that may mediate the intervention's effect, and thereby exploring possible methods of enhancing the basic intervention.