The Effect of High School Students’ Self-Efficacy and Perceptions for Sun Protection on Their Sun Protection Behaviors

Abstract

Background: It is important to identify the risks that may cause skin cancer development in adolescents and the factors affecting sun protection behaviors. Objectives: This study was carried out in a descriptive and cross-sectional design to determine the effect of high school students’ self-efficacy and perceptions for sun protection on their sun protection behaviors. Methods: The study was conducted from February to April 2019 with 846 students from two high schools in Turkey. The data of the study were collected using a personal information form, the Sun Protection Behavior Scale (SPBS), the Decisional Balance Scale (DBS) for Sun Protection, and the Self-Efficacy Scale for Sun Protection (SES). The data were analyzed through SPSS and AMOS software packages using Pearson’s correlation analysis, the linear regression analysis, and the structural equation model. Results: In the multiple regression analysis, a model was created according to the relationship between the variables. In the model, high school students’ self-efficacy and perceptions for sun protection explained 33.6% of their sun protection behaviors. It was found that all the factors except for DBS cons perception (p>.05) had a statistically significant effect on students’ sun protection behavior. According to the structural equation model, the fit indices of the model were found to be greater than.91. Conclusion: As adolescents’ self-efficacy levels and perceptions of the pros and cons increase, their likelihood of exhibiting sun protection behaviors increases as well. In adolescent training, it is important to design and disseminate educational programs consisting of interventions that will increase adolescents’ self-efficacy and perceptions of decision-making.