The influence of parents and peers on adolescent indoor tanning behavior: findings from a multi-city sample.

Abstract

Indoor tanning is common among adolescents. Our purpose was to examine the influence of parents and peers on adolescent indoor tanning. Telephone interviews were conducted with 5274 teen-parent pairs in the 100 largest US cities. Random coefficient regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between parental and peer factors and adolescent indoor tanning. Teens' report of whether their parents allow them to tan indoors was the strongest predictor (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 5.6), whereas parents' modeling (aOR: 1.2), attitudes (aOR: 1.1), and concern about teen tanning (aOR: 1.9) were significantly but less strongly associated. Teens thinking most of their peers like to be tan (aOR: 1.7) and perceived percentage of peers who tan indoors (aOR: 1.0) also were significantly associated. The cross-sectional design was a limitation of this study. Interventions targeting adolescent indoor tanning should address both family- and peer-related factors.