Sharon Danoff-Burg

Extensive evidence has linked sunlamp or sun bed exposure to increased risk of melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers.^1-3 Despite ongoing efforts to educate the public about the health risks associated with natural and nonsolar UV radiation, recreational tanning continues to increase among young adults.⁴ In addition to the desire for appearance enhancement, motivations for tanning include relaxation, improved mood, and socialization.^5-7 These reinforcing properties of UV tanning have been conceptualized within an addiction framework.⁸ That is, repeated exposure to UV light may result in a behavior pattern similar to other types of substance-related disorder (SRD). In support of this hypothesis, a significant proportion (12%-53%) of young adults and beachgoers has met the criteria for having an SRD with respect to UV light tanning behavior.^7,9,10 In addition, having an SRD that involves tanning behavior and the use of indoor tanning devices has been positively associated with cigarette smoking among young adults.^9,11 However, to our knowledge, in-depth analyses of the reliability and validity of measures of SRDs that involve self-reported tanning behavior have not been conducted. Research also has not specifically focused on SRD with respect to indoor tanning and its relation to other psychopathological conditions. We hypothesized that a minority of college students would meet the criteria for an SRD with respect to indoor tanning and that having this disorder (determined by self-report) would be positively related to anxiety, depression, and substance use.

The authors' goal was to assess unmet needs of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Participants (N = 112), who were recruited through the mailing list and support group meetings of a Lupus Alliance of America Affiliate, completed a survey based on prior research. All participants perceived at least 1 unmet need. The most frequently reported unmet needs were in the physical symptoms domain. Older patients were more likely than younger patients to have higher levels of unmet needs related to physical and psychological functioning. African American patients were more likely than white patients to have higher levels of unmet needs related to health services and information. Our findings document the high prevalence and variety of unmet needs among these patients, as well as variations among demographic groups. To address unmet needs of SLE patients, targeted referrals to patient educators, mental health professionals, and support organizations are important adjuncts to medical treatment.

An intriguing question within the expressive writing literature is whether writing interventions that focus on positive aspects of adverse experiences can produce health benefits, particularly among individuals with serious physical illness. Seventy-five adults with lupus or rheumatoid arthritis were randomly assigned to one of three 4-session writing interventions: benefit finding (BF), standard expressive writing (EW), or a control group. Follow-up questionnaires were completed one and three months later. At three months, fatigue was lower in the BF and EW groups than in the control group. BF appeared effective in reducing pain levels for participants with high trait anxiety, whereas EW appeared effective for participants with low trait anxiety. No significant group effects were found for psychological functioning or disability. Results are discussed with regard to the literature on BF and EW among medical patients.

This study investigated cognitive predictors of tanning salon use, based on Jaccard’s Theory of Alternative Behavior. A total of 164 undergraduates completed questionnaires that assessed tanning salon use, attitudes toward tanning salon use and attitudes toward behavioral alternatives for enhancing appearance, relaxing and socializing. Results indicated that attitudes toward alternatives for enhancing appearance were not significantly related to tanning salon use. However, favorable attitudes toward engaging in a hobby to relax and going to the gym to socialize were inversely related to frequency of tanning salon use. Findings suggest that interventions for reducing skin cancer risk should focus not only on decreasing favorable attitudes toward tanning, but also on increasing favorable attitudes toward healthier alternatives to tanning salon use.

This longitudinal study of patients with rheumatoid arthritis used mixed methods to identify and describe the positive effects of illness on relationships, examine correlates of benefit-finding, and test the relationship between benefit-finding and adjustment outcomes. When asked about interpersonal benefits of their illness, 71.3% of the respondents described interpersonal benefits, whereas 16.2% reported another type of benefit, and 12.5% reported no benefits. The most frequently described benefit was appreciation of support received from loved ones. Less pain, lower psychological distress, and perceiving fewer social constraints were related to finding interpersonal benefits in the illness experience. Interpersonal benefit-finding predicted lower levels of disability at a 12-month follow-up. Findings are discussed with regard to conceptual issues, methodological recommendations, and implications for interventions.