Effects of Upward and Downward Social Comparison Information on the Efficacy of an Appearance-based Sun Protection Intervention: a Randomized, Controlled Experiment

Overview

Journal J Behav Med

Specialty Social Sciences

Date 2010 Jul 24

PMID 20652391

Citations 27

Authors

Heike I M Mahler

James A Kulik

Meg Gerrard

Frederick X Gibbons

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

This experiment examined the impact of adding upward and/or downward social comparison information on the efficacy of an appearance-based sun protection intervention (UV photos and photoaging information). Southern California college students (N = 126) were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: control, intervention, intervention plus upward social comparison, intervention plus downward social comparison. The results demonstrated that all those who received the basic UV photo/photoaging intervention reported greater perceived susceptibility to photoaging (d = .74), less favorable tanning cognitions (d = .44), and greater intentions to sun protect (d = 1.32) relative to controls. Of more interest, while the basic intervention increased sun protective behavior during the subsequent 5 weeks relative to controls (d = .44), the addition of downward comparison information completely negated this benefit. Upward comparison information produced sun protection levels that were only slightly (and nonsignificantly) greater than in the basic intervention condition and, as such, does not appear to be a cost-effective addition. Possible mechanisms that may have reduced the benefits of upward comparison information and contributed to the undermining effects of downward comparison information are discussed.

Citing Articles

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Evaluating SunSmart: a brief educational intervention promoting sun protection in young adult cancer survivors.

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Effectiveness of a tailored web app on sun protection intentions and its implications for skin cancer prevention: A randomized controlled trial.

Nittas V, Mutsch M, Frey T, Braun J, Puhan M PLOS Digit Health. 2023; 1(5):e0000032.

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