Risk normalization in sunlight exposure

• Autor(a) principal: Gaspar, Gabriela Ferreira
• Data de Publicação: 2017
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10071/16261
• topic: Sunlight exposure; Normalization of risk perception; Positive illusions; Health literacy; Psicologia do comportamento; Comportamento de risco; Literacia; Perceção do risco; Saúde; Exposição solar; Normalização da perceção de risco; Ilusões positivas; Literacia em saúde

The present study focuses on the understanding of whether there is a process of risk normalization, due to the use of positive illusions, in individuals who expose themselves to sunlight on the beach. A pilot study (N = 44) evidenced that the positive illusions most referred are the use of protective measures during exposition at unrecommended time. To understand whether knowledge of sunlight exposure risks and risk perception could be negatively associated, due to the use of protective measures, a questionnaire was applied to a convenience sample (N = 276). The sample was reduced in two groups that reported being exposed between 12 am and 3 pm - low protective behaviors (n = 74) and high (n = 41). Results illustrate the normalization process only in individuals who have high protection behaviors, as expected. The effect of moderating variables was also tested: mediation of the consequences of risk in time and health literacy in the relation between knowledge of risks and risk perception. Only health literacy had a significant effect, decreasing normalization. The role of knowledge of benefits was also explored. It was positively related to risk perception and this relation was moderated by mediation in time. This study suggests that it is important to a) warn that the use of protective measures during the hazardous time does not guarantee immunity, b) promote health literacy, as it can minimize risk normalization c) understand how information on risks and benefits interact to influence risk perception.