Effects of upward and downward social comparison information on the efficacy of an appearance-based sun protection intervention: A randomized, controlled experiment

Journal of Behavioral Medicine

Volumn 33, Issue 6, 2010, Pages 496-507

  Mahler, Heike I M ^a,b   Kulik, James A ^a   Gerrard, Meg ^c   Gibbons, Frederick X ^d  

^a UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA   (United States)

^b CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY   (United States)

^c DARTMOUTH MEDICAL SCHOOL   (United States)

^d DARTMOUTH COLLEGE   (United States)

Author keywords

Downward social comparison; Skin cancer; Sun protection; Upward social comparison; UV photos

Indexed keywords

ADOLESCENT; ADULT; ANALYSIS OF VARIANCE; ARTICLE; ATTITUDE TO HEALTH; BEHAVIOR; CLINICAL TRIAL; CONTROLLED CLINICAL TRIAL; CONTROLLED STUDY; FEMALE; HEALTH EDUCATION; HUMAN; MALE; METHODOLOGY; PERCEPTION; RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL; SKIN TUMOR; SOCIAL CONTROL; SUNBURN;

ADOLESCENT; ADULT; ANALYSIS OF VARIANCE; FEMALE; HEALTH EDUCATION; HEALTH KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, PRACTICE; HUMANS; INTENTION; MALE; SKIN NEOPLASMS; SOCIAL CONTROL, INFORMAL; SOCIAL PERCEPTION; SUNBURN;

EID: 78649332636     PISSN: 01607715     EISSN: 15733521     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1007/s10865-010-9279-3     Document Type: Article

References (58)

1. I Ajzen 1991 The theory of planned behavior Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes 50 179 211 10.1016/0749-5978(91)90020-T
2. Ajzen, I., & Fishbein, M. (1980). Understanding attitudes and predicting social behavior. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
3. American Cancer Society. (2007). Cancer facts and figures. Atlanta, GA: American Cancer Society.
4. A Baum L Cohen 1998 Successful behavioral interventions to prevent cancer: The example of skin cancer Annual Review of Public Health 19 319 333 1:STN:280:DyaK1c3nsVGmtA%3D%3D 10.1146/annurev.publhealth.19.1.319 9611622 (Pubitemid 28279934)
5. SJ Blalock BM DeVellis RA Afifi RS Sandler 1990 Risk perceptions and participation in colorectal cancer screening Health Psychology 9 792 806 1:STN:280:DyaK3M7jvVGrtw%3D%3D 10.1037/0278-6133.9.6.792 2286186
6. V Cokkinides M Weinstock K Glanz J Albano E Ward M Thun 2006 Trends in sunburns, sun protection practices, and attitudes toward sun exposure protection and tanning among US adolescents, 1998-2004 Pediatrics 118 853 864 10.1542/peds.2005-3109 16950974 (Pubitemid 46090025)
7. RL Collins 1996 For better or worse: The impact of upward social comparison on self-evaluations Psychological Bulletin 119 51 69 10.1037/0033-2909.119.1.51
8. B Efron 1987 Better bootstrap confidence intervals Journal of the American Statistical Association 82 171 185 10.2307/2289144
9. L Festinger 1954 A theory of social comparison processes Human Relations 7 117 140 10.1177/001872675400700202
10. TB Fitzpatrick 1988 The validity and practicality of sun-reactive skin types I through IV Archives of Dermatology 124 869 871 1:STN:280: DyaL1c3jvFKqug%3D%3D 10.1001/archderm.124.6.869 3377516
11. DP French SR Sutton TM Marteau AL Kinmonth 2004 The impact of personal and social comparison information about health risk British Journal of Health Psychology 9 187 200 10.1348/135910704773891041 15125804 (Pubitemid 38702447)
12. JE Fulton 1997 Utilizing the ultraviolet (UV detect) camera to enhance the appearance of photo damage and other skin conditions Dermatologic Surgery 23 163 169 10.1016/S1076-0512(97)00097-6 9145957
13. FX Gibbons M Gerrard DJ Lane HIM Mahler JA Kulik 2005 Using UV photography to reduce use of tanning booths: A test of cognitive mediation Health Psychology 24 358 363 10.1037/0278-6133.24.4.358 16045371 (Pubitemid 41099136)
14. JJ Hillhouse AW Stair CM Adler 1996 Predictors of sunbathing and sunscreen use in college undergraduates Journal of Behavioral Medicine 19 543 561 1:STN:280:DyaK2s7isFynsA%3D%3D 10.1007/BF01904903 8970914 (Pubitemid 26425265)
15. HJ Hoegh BD Davis AF Manthe 1999 Sun avoidance practices among non-Hispanic white Californians Health Education and Behavior 26 360 368 1:STN:280:DyaK1M3nvFWqsg%3D%3D 10.1177/109019819902600306 10349573
16. C Hoffner J Ye 2009 Young adults' responses to news about sunscreen and skin cancer: The role of framing and social comparison Health Communication 24 189 198 10.1080/10410230902804067 19415551
17. TS Houseman SR Feldman PM Williford AB Fleischer ND Goldman JM Acostamadiedo GJ Chen 2003 Skin cancer is among the most costly of all cancers to treat for the Medicare population Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 48 425 429 10.1067/mjd.2003.186 (Pubitemid 36337080)
18. JL Jones MR Leary 1994 Effects of appearance-based admonitions against sun exposure on tanning intentions in young adults Health Psychology 13 86 90 1:STN:280:DyaK2c3it1Shsw%3D%3D 10.1037/0278-6133.13.1.86 8168475
19. Keppel, G. (1973). Design and analysis: A researcher's handbook. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall.
20. WMP Klein 1997 Objective standards are not enough: Affective, self-evaluative, and behavioural responses to social comparison information Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 72 763 774 1:STN:280: DyaK2s3mt1ehsg%3D%3D 10.1037/0022-3514.72.4.763 9108694
21. WMP Klein 2002 Comparative risk estimates relative to the average peer predict behavioural intentions and concern about absolute risk Risk Decision and Policy 7 193 202 10.1017/S1357530902000613
22. WMP Klein 2003 Self-prescriptive, perceived, and actual attention to comparative risk information Psychology and Health 18 625 643 10.1080/0887044031000118465 (Pubitemid 37155476)
23. Klein, W. M. P., & Weinstein, N. D. (1997). Social comparison and unrealistic optimism about personal risk. In B. P. Buunk & F. X. Gibbons (Eds.), Health, coping, and well-being (pp. 25-61). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
24. R Lawton M Conner D Parker 2007 Beyond cognition: Predicting health risk behaviors from instrumental and affective beliefs Health Psychology 26 259 267 10.1037/0278-6133.26.3.259 17500612 (Pubitemid 46763186)
25. D Lazovich J Forster 2005 Indoor tanning by adolescents: Prevalence, practices and policies European Journal of Cancer 41 20 27 10.1016/j.ejca.2004. 09.015 15617988 (Pubitemid 40029656)
26. IM Lipkus WMP Klein 2006 Effects of communicating social comparison information on risk perceptions for colorectal cancer Journal of Health Communication 11 391 407 10.1080/10810730600671870 16720537 (Pubitemid 43995283)
27. P Lockwood 2002 Could it happen to you? Predicting the impact of downward comparisons on the self Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 82 343 358 10.1037/0022-3514.82.3.343 11902621
28. P Lockwood Z Kunda 1997 Superstars and me: Predicting the impact of role models on the self Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 73 91 103 10.1037/0022-3514.73.1.91
29. HIM Mahler B Fitzpatrick P Parker A Lapin 1997 The relative effects of a health-based versus an appearance-based intervention designed to increase sunscreen use American Journal of Health Promotion 11 426 429 1:STN:280:DyaK2szmslahtg%3D%3D 10168263
30. HIM Mahler JA Kulik HA Butler M Gerrard FX Gibbons 2008 Social norms information enhances the efficacy of an appearance-based sun protection intervention Social Science and Medicine 67 321 329 10.1016/j.socscimed.2008.03. 037 18448221 (Pubitemid 351787390)
31. HIM Mahler JA Kulik M Gerrard FX Gibbons 2006 Effects of two appearance-based interventions on the sun protection behaviors of southern California beach patrons Basic and Applied Social Psychology 28 263 272 10.1207/s15324834basp2803-5 (Pubitemid 44620900)
32. HIM Mahler JA Kulik M Gerrard FX Gibbons 2007 Long-term effects of appearance-based interventions on sun protection behaviors Health Psychology 26 350 360 10.1037/0278-6133.26.3.350 17500622 (Pubitemid 46763196)
33. HIM Mahler JA Kulik FX Gibbons M Gerrard J Harrell 2003 Effects of appearance-based interventions on sun protection intentions and self-reported behaviors Health Psychology 22 199 209 10.1037/0278-6133.22.2.199 12683740 (Pubitemid 36307567)
34. HIM Mahler JA Kulik J Harrel A Correa FX Gibbons M Gerrard 2005 Effects of UV Photographs, photoaging information, and use of sunless tanning lotion on sun protection behaviors Archives of Dermatology 141 373 380 10.1001/archderm.141.3.373 15781679
35. KD McCaul SM O'Donnell 1998 Naive beliefs about breast cancer risk Women's Health: Research on Gender, Behaviour, and Policy 4 93 101 1:STN:280:DyaK1c7otFahtw%3D%3D
36. AG Miller WA Ashton JW McHoskey J Gimbel 1990 What price attractiveness? Stereotype and risk factors in suntanning behavior Journal of Applied Social Psychology 20 1272 1300 10.1111/j.1559-1816.1990.tb01472.x
37. LC Miller R Murphy AH Buss 1981 Consciousness of body: Private and public Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 41 397 406 10.1037/0022-3514.41.2. 397
38. Mongeau, P. (1998). Another look at fear arousing messages. In M. Allen & R. Preiss (Eds.), Persuasion: Advances through meta-analysis (pp. 53-68). Cresskill, NJ: Hampton Press.
39. WG Newman SI Woodruff AD Argo JA Mayer 1996 A survey of recreational sun exposure of residents of San Diego, California American Journal of Preventive Medicine 12 186 194 1:STN:280:DyaK28zmtlyiuw%3D%3D 8743874
40. S Pagoto D McChargue RW Fugua 2003 Effects of a multicomponent intervention on motivation and sun protection behaviors among Midwestern beachgoers Health Psychology 22 429 433 10.1037/0278-6133.22.4.429 12940400 (Pubitemid 36944582)
41. SL Parker T Tong S Bolden PA Wingo 1997 Cancer statistics CA Cancer Journal for Clinicians 46 5 27 10.3322/canjclin.46.1.5
42. KJ Preacher AF Hayes 2008 Asymptotic and resampling strategies for assessing and comparing indirect effects in multiple mediator models Behavior Research Methods 40 879 891 10.3758/BRM.40.3.879 18697684
43. Purdue, M. P., Freeman, L. E. B., Anderson, W. F., & Tucker, M. A. (2008). Recent trends in incidence of cutaneous melanoma among US Caucasian young adults. Journal of Investigative Dermatology. doi: 10.1038/jid.2008.159.
44. JK Robinson DS Rigel RA Amonette 1997 Trends in sun exposure knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors: 1986 to 1996 Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 37 179 186 1:STN:280:DyaK2svhs1Gmsw%3D%3D 10.1016/S0190-9622(97) 80122-3 9270501 (Pubitemid 27355701)
45. AJ Rothman 2000 Toward a theory-based analysis of behavioral maintenance Health Psychology 19 1 64 69 1:STN:280:DC%2BD3c7ntlWrsQ%3D%3D 10.1037/0278-6133.19.Suppl1.64 10709949
46. R Schwarzer 2001 Social-cognitive factors in changing health-related behaviors Current Directions in Psychological Science 10 47 51 10.1111/1467-8721.00112 (Pubitemid 33403308)
47. J Suls R Martin L Wheeler 2002 Social comparison: Why, with whom, and with what effect? Current Directions in Psychological Science 11 159 163 10.1111/1467-8721.00191
48. Suls, J., & Wheeler, L. (2000). Handbook of social comparison: Theory and research. Dordrecht, Netherlands: Kluwer.
49. Sutton, S. R. (1982). Fear-arousing communications: A critical examination of theory and research. In J. R. Eiser (Ed.), Social psychology and behavioral medicine (pp. 303-337). London: Wiley.
50. SE Taylor M Lobel 1989 Social comparison activity under threat: Downward evaluation and upward contacts Psychological Review 96 4 569 575 1:STN:280:DyaK3c%2FhvVShtw%3D%3D 10.1037/0033-295X.96.4.569 2678204
51. M Testa B Major 1990 The impact of social comparisons after failure: The moderating effects of perceived control Basic and Applied Social Psychology 11 205 218 10.1207/s15324834basp1102-7
52. The Cancer Council, Australia (2007). All about skin cancer. http://www.cancer.org.au/content.cfm?randid=960742. Retrieved August 6, 2007.
53. D Trafimow P Sheeran B Lombardo KA Finlay J Brown CJ Armitage 2004 Affective and cognitive control of persons and behaviors British Journal of Social Psychology 43 207 224 10.1348/0144666041501642 15285831 (Pubitemid 38919872)
54. R Turrisi J Hillhouse C Gebert 1998 Examination of cognitive variables relevant to sunbathing Journal of Behavioral Medicine 21 299 313 1:STN:280:DyaK1czgs1GnsA%3D%3D 10.1023/A:1018773101658 9642574 (Pubitemid 28280518)
55. L Wheeler K Miyake 1992 Social comparison in everyday life Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 62 760 773 10.1037/0022-3514.62.5.760
56. TA Wills 1981 Downward comparison principles in social psychology Psychological Bulletin 90 245 271 10.1037/0033-2909.90.2.245
57. JV Wood 1989 Theory and research concerning social comparisons of personal attributes Psychological Bulletin 106 231 248 10.1037/0033-2909.106.2. 231
58. World Health Organization (2007). Skin Cancers. http://www.who.int/uv/ faq/skincancer/en/index1.html. Retrieved January 11, 2007.