Level of knowledge on tanorexia among high-school students

Background. Tanorexia is a disorder, which turns pleasure of tanning into compulsive obligation to use tanning beds. This addiction has not been yet classified in the DSM-IV or ICD-10, but is described as a disorder which has mental and behavioural characteristics. Objectives. To show the level of knowledge on tanorexia among high school students. Material and methods. The study was conducted using a questionnaire among 164 students (93 girls and 71 boys). Results. 70% of surveyed students knew that it is possible to get addicted to sun-tanning and knew that it is called tanorexia. Students were aware that sun-tanning addiction is as dangerous as a drug addiction, and people addicted to sun-tanning should use professional psychological help. Over 90% of respondents were aware that excessive exposure to sun can cause skin cancer, melanoma, and that it accelerates skin aging process. 38% of respondents used the tanning bed. Conclusions. Obtained results indicate that there is a need to educate young people in the scope of safe protection due to the fact that possessed knowledge of dangers concerning excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation does not translate onto appropriate behaviour. The study also revealed the need of preventive and psychotherapeutic actions (cognitive-behavioural) taking into account the fact that knowledge concerning harmfulness of excessive sun-tanning does not cause the change of the young people's behaviour connected with sun-tanning.