Faulkner, Katelyn (2019) Sun-Protection Behaviours for Children Aged 0-6 Years: A Caregiver Diary Study. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
With childhood sun-exposure increasing the risk of skin cancer development later in life, young children rely on their caregivers to provide sufficient sun-protection. However, research is yet to measure the actual sun-protection behaviours caregivers perform for their children. The present study aimed to explore what sun-protective behaviours caregivers are performing for their 0- to 6-year-old children, in addition to the factors that predict their behavioural intention and behaviour. Sixty-eight Australian caregivers of children aged between 0 to 6 years completed an online survey gathering demographic information, measures of the Theory of Planned Behaviour variables of attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioural control, and behavioural intention, and caregivers’ personal sunprotection. Seven caregivers completed a 4-day diary recording the sun-protection they used for their children. The study found that attitudes, subjective norm, caregiver skin type and personal sun-protection were all significant predictors of caregivers’ behavioural intention, but not perceived behavioural control. The diary study revealed that parents implemented sun-protection for their children just over half of the time. This study partially supports the predictive utility of the Theory of Planned Behaviour within the context of caregivers’ sunprotection for their children, and highlights that caregivers are generally not sufficiently sunprotecting their children. Further research is recommended to establish the role of caregivers’ feelings of responsibility for their children’s health and if it predicts their intention to perform sun-protective behaviours.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology and Counselling (1 Jan 2015 - 31 Dec 2021) |
| Supervisors: | Carla Jeffries; Tanya Machin |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 02 Sep 2025 01:54 |
| Last Modified: | 02 Sep 2025 01:54 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | sun-protection; children; caregivers; theory of planned behaviour; skin cancer |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52312 |
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