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Moderated Mediation Regarding the Sun-Safe Behaviors of U.S. Latinos: Advancing the Theory and Evidence for Acculturation-Focused Research and Interventions

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Abstract

Recent studies revealed a negative association between acculturation and sun-safe behaviors, possibly mediated by education level, health status, and social networks. We sought to elucidate this relationship by exploring the moderating effects of gender and health insurance on each mediated path. We used data from 496 Latino respondents to the 2005 Health Information National Trends Survey. Acculturation, assessed by a four-item index, was the primary predictor; use of sunscreen and protective clothing were the primary outcomes, assessed by frequency scales. Moderated mediation was tested with an established causal moderation method. The mediated association between acculturation, education level and sunscreen use might be stronger among women than men (P < 0.08). We found no evidence of moderated mediation for use of protective clothing. The findings suggest ways of refining the theoretical and empirical rationale for sun safety research and interventions with Latinos. Studies should replicate these models with longitudinal data.

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Acknowledgment

M.G. Cockburn was supported in part by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (grant U55/CCU921930-02), the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (grant 5P30 ES07048), and the National Cancer Institute (grant R01CA121052). K.D. Reynolds was supported by the National Cancer Institute (grant CA100285). The authors are grateful to the reviewers of the article for their useful comments and suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Valentina A. Andreeva, Myles G. Cockburn & Kim D. Reynolds

  2. National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), Unit 780, 16, avenue Paul Vaillant Couturier, 94807, Villejuif Paris Cedex, France

    Valentina A. Andreeva

  3. The Center for Human Nutrition, Omaha, NE, USA

    Amy L. Yaroch

  4. School of Community and Global Health, Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, CA, USA

    Jennifer B. Unger

  5. Department of Psychology in Education, Rossier School of Education, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Robert Rueda

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  1. Valentina A. Andreeva
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  2. Amy L. Yaroch
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  3. Jennifer B. Unger
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  4. Myles G. Cockburn
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  6. Kim D. Reynolds
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Correspondence to Valentina A. Andreeva.

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Andreeva, V.A., Yaroch, A.L., Unger, J.B. et al. Moderated Mediation Regarding the Sun-Safe Behaviors of U.S. Latinos: Advancing the Theory and Evidence for Acculturation-Focused Research and Interventions. J Immigrant Minority Health 12, 691–698 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-009-9302-3

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