Abstract
IMPORTANCE Several state governments have enacted bans on the use of indoor tanning beds at tanning salons among minors, but studies of the association of such restrictions with tanning behavior have produced mixed results. Little is known about the prevalence of tanning in nonsalon locations that are typically not covered by restrictions. Evidence that age bans are associated with a reduction in tanning bed use is needed to support policy makers' efforts to expand tanning regulations. OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence and location of indoor tanning among New Jersey youths after a 2013 statewide indoor tanning ban for minors younger than 17 years. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This survey study comprised 4 biennial (2012-2018) and representative cross-sectional surveys conducted among 12 659 high school students (grades 9-12) in New Jersey. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The main outcomewas the frequency of indoor tanning in the past year. Location of tanning bed use (ie, tanning salons or nonsalon locations, such as private residences or gyms) was also assessed. RESULTS Survey responses from a total of 12 659 high school students (6499 female [51%]; mean [SD] age, 15.8 [1.3] years) were analyzed across the 4 survey waves. Tanning prevalence among students younger than 17 years (ie, younger than the legal tanning age) was 48% lower in 2018 compared with 2012 (adjusted odds ratio, 0.52; 95%CI, 0.33-0.81; P = .002). Tanning prevalence was 72%lower among female students 17 years or older (adjusted odds ratio, 0.28; 95%CI, 0.18-0.44; P < .001). Prevalence rates were not significantly different for male students 17 years or older and for racial/ethnic minority students. The prevalence of tanning in salons and private residences was similar among students younger than 17 years. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This study suggests that the prevalence of tanning in New Jersey has begun to decrease among all youths younger than the legal tanning age and among female students of legal age in the 5 years after a statewide tanning ban. These findings provide valuable evidence to policy makers to support ongoing state-level efforts to enact age-specific bans on indoor tanning. The unique assessment of tanning location demonstrates the need for both greater enforcement of existing tanning salon regulations to ensure compliance and broadening restrictions to cover nonsalon tanning locations.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1223-1227 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | JAMA Dermatology |
| Volume | 156 |
| Issue number | 11 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Nov 2020 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Funding/Support: The New Jersey Youth Tobacco Survey is supported by a contract from the New Jersey Department of Health to the Center for Tobacco Studies, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey. This research was supported in part by grants K07 CA175115 and R01CA218068 from the National Cancer Institute (Dr Stapleton). Services in support of the research project were generated by the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey Population Science Research Support Shared Resource (P30CA072720).
Funding Information:
reported receiving support from a contract from the New Jersey Department of Health and grants from the National Institutes of Health during the conduct of the study. Dr Delnevo reported receiving grants from the New Jersey Department of Health during the conduct of the study and grants from the National Institutes of Health outside the submitted work. No other disclosures were reported.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 American Medical Association.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Dermatology