Greaves, Rebecca (2020) Sun-protection behaviours for children aged 0 to 6 years: A caregiver diary study. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
Childhood exposure to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation can increase the likelihood of developing melanoma later in life. This study investigated the influences on parents’ and caregivers’ intentions and behaviours in relation to sun-protection for their children aged 0-6 years. The theoretical framework used to examine the parents’ and caregivers’ sun protection intentions and behaviours was the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). Seventy-three participants completed an online survey, with four participants continuing in the study to complete the diary study component. The online survey measured the TPB variables of attitudes, subjective norms (SN), perceived behavioural control (PBC) and intentions while the diary study recorded instances of implementation. Mostly consistent with the hypotheses, results showed that the TPB variables accounted for a significant amount of the variance in parent and caregiver behavioural intentions. Specifically, attitudes and PBC positively predicted the behavioural intentions, whereas SN were not predictive. The diary study data was utilised to examine implemented sun-protection behaviours, however insufficient participants meant behaviours in relation to TPB were unable to be analysed. No parents or caregivers reported implementing all five recommended sun-protection behaviours. The 0-2 years age group had the least amount of behaviours implemented. Subjective norms not being a predictor of behavioural intentions may be a result of contextual factors, an area that has not previously been considered in sun-protection research. This study highlighted the importance of including diary studies in future sun-protection research.
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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 |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 16 Jul 2025 23:49 |
| Last Modified: | 16 Jul 2025 23:49 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Theory of Planned Behaviour; diary; sun-protection; behaviours; parents and caregivers, young children |
| 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/52362 |
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