Trends in sun protection behaviours
Skin Cancer Statistics and Issues Prevention Policy
The findings from five national surveys during summers between 2003-04 and 2016-17 show that sun protection compliance while outdoors on the weekend during peak UV radiation hours was relatively low in most cases (Tables 1 & 2). Australian adolescents were less compliant than adults.
In 2016/17, only 10% of adolescents wore a ¾ or long sleeved top, 38% applied SPF 30 or higher sunscreen and/or wore a hat, 23% sought shade and 21% wore sunglasses. However, in 2016/17 teenagers were more likely to use three or more forms of sun protection compared to 2013/14.[1]
Table 1 Trends in adolescents’ weekend sun protection behaviours and sunburn[2]
| Adolescents (12 – 17), n= 4,673 | 2003-04 | 2006-07 | 2010-11 | 2013-14 | 2016-17 | Significant changes in 2016-17 % |
| Respondents outdoors > 15 minutes | 80% | 82% | 77% | 78% | 77% | No change |
| Time spent outdoors (minutes) | 110 | 111 | 112 | 112 | 102 | ↓since 2003-4 & 2013-17 |
| Hat used | 38% | 29% | 23% | 27 | 38 | ↑ since 2003-04 & 2013-17 |
| Sunscreen used (at least SPF15+) | 37% | 37% | 37% | 41 | 40 | no change |
| ¾ or long sleeved top worn | 11% | 9% | 11% | 8% | 10% | no change |
| ¾ or long leg cover worn | 37% | 30% | 28% | 25% | 21% | ↓ since 2003-04 |
| Sunglasses | 23% | 24% | 24% | 25% | 21% | ↓since 2003-04 & 2013-17 |
| Stayed mostly in the shade | 19% | 20% | 21% | 22% | 23% | ↑ since 2003-04 |
| Two or more sun protective behaviours | 29% | 22% | 24% | 28% | 33% | ↑ since 2013-14 |
| Weekend sunburn | 25% | 24% | 21% | 23% | 26% | No change |
Table 2 Trends in adults’ weekend sun protection behaviours and sunburn[2]
| Adults (18 – 69), n= 24,472 | 2003-04 | 2006-07 | 2010-11 | 2013-14 | 2016-17 | Significant changes in 2016-17 % |
| Respondents outdoors > 15 minutes | 73% | 67% | 66% | 70% | 67% | ↓ since 2003-04 |
| Time spent outdoors (minutes) | 118 | 116 | 111 | 116 | 108 | ↓ since 2003-04 |
| Hat used | 48% | 50% | 45% | 44% | 49% | no change |
| Sunscreen used (at least SPF15+) | 33% | 37% | 36% | 37% | 42% | ↑ since 2003-04 and 2013-14 |
| ¾ or long sleeved top worn | 18% | 19% | 19% | 19% | 17% | ↓since 2003-04 and 2013-14 |
| ¾ or long leg cover worn | 46% | 44% | 44% | 39% | 36% | ↓since 2003-04 and 2013-14 |
| Sunglasses | 55% | 58% | 57% | 61% | 61% | no change |
| Stayed mostly in the shade | 27% | 27% | 28% | 28% | 26% | no change |
| Two or more sun protective behaviours | 32% | 32% | 44% | 43% | 47% | ↑ since 2003-04 |
| Weekend sunburn | 18% | 14% | 13% | 15% | 17% | ↓ since 2003-04* |
* Model includes respondents indoors and outdoors and adjusts for UV
A nationally representative survey of Australian adults’ sun protection in January 2019 found the following behaviours among those outdoors on the previous summer weekend:
Table 3 Adults’ weekend sun protection behaviours and sunburn in 2019[3]
| Adults, n= 1531 | Wide-brimmed hat | Any other hat or cap | Sunglasses | Sunscreen (SPF30) | ¾ or long-sleeved top | ¾ or long leg cover | No sun protection used | Weekend sunburn |
| 27% | 22% | 57% | 37% | 26% | 29% | 12% | 21% |
Last modified: 12 August 2022
References
- Cancer Council Australia. Half a million Australian teenagers sunburnt on summer weekends. Media release. Sydney, Australia; 2019 Nov 17 Available from: https://www.cancer.org.au/news/media-releases/half-a-million-australian-teenagers-sunburnt-on-summer-weekends.html.
- Tabbakh T, Dobbinson S. 2016-17 National Sun Protection Survey: Report 2 Sun protective behaviours and sunburn incidence on weekends among Australians in summer 2016-17. Melbourne, Australia: Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer, Cancer Council of Victoria; 2018.
- Social Research Centre. Summer Sun Protection Survey 2019 Topline Report. Melbourne, Australia: Social Research Centre, Prepared for Cancer Council Victoria and Cancer Council New South Wales; 2019 (unpublished).; 2019 [cited 2022 Aug 12].