A new study found that acculturation in the U.S. may negatively influence sun safety behaviors among Latinos. Researchers analyzed data from 496 Latino respondents to the 2005 Health National Information Trends Survey. The average age of the sample was 41.3 years. Researchers discovered that acculturation was negatively associated with use of shade and protective clothing and positively associated with sunscreen use.

"Acculturation has a largely adverse effect on Latinos’ skin cancer-risk-related behaviors. Appropriate interventions with this population could improve engagement in sun safety as well as knowledge about skin cancer signs and symptoms and could result in decreased rates of advanced melanoma," said authors of the study.

The study is published in the American Journal of Public Health

[Source: Medical News Today]