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Published

2018-09-03

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Vol. 3 No. 2 (2018)

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Research Articles

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How to Cite

Gaspar, G., & Luís, S. (2018). Risk perception normalization of sunlight exposure. Environment and Social Psychology, 3(2). https://doi.org/10.18063/esp.v3.i2.796

Risk perception normalization of sunlight exposure

Gabriela Gaspar

2 Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE – IUL), Centro de Investigação e Intervenção Social (CIS – IUL), Lisboa, Portugal

Sílvia Luís

1 Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE – IUL)


DOI: https://doi.org/10.18063/esp.v3.i2.796


Keywords: Sunlight exposure, normalization of risk perception, positive illusions, health literacy

Abstract

Health organizations recommend avoiding direct sunlight exposure usually between 11 am and 5 pm. Nevertheless, it is common to see people on the beach during all day. This study focuses on understanding if sunlight exposure risk might be normalized. Risk normalization is a process by which people minimize a perceive threat to psychologically cope with it, frequently by using positive illusions. A pilot study (N = 44) suggests that the positive illusions most referred to explain exposition at unrecommended hours are the use of protective measures. To explore if knowledge of sunlight exposure risk and risk perception were negatively associated, illustrating risk normalization, a questionnaire was applied to a convenience sample (N = 276). This effect was found among those individuals that exposed themselves to sunlight between 12 am and 3 pm and reported a use of protective measures that was above the average. Furthermore, health literacy moderated the negative relation between knowledge and risk perception. This study suggests that it is important communicating that the use of protective measures during unrecommended hours does not guarantee protection, promoting health literacy, as it can minimize risk normalization, and understanding how information on risks and benefits interacts to influence risk perception.

Author Biography

Gabriela Gaspar, 2 Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE – IUL), Centro de Investigação e Intervenção Social (CIS – IUL), Lisboa, Portugal

Sílvia Luís, PhD, is a social psychologist and a research fellow at the Centre for Research and Social Intervention (CIS-IUL) at the university ISCTE-IUL, in Lisbon, Portugal. Her research centers on how psychosocial variables (such as risk perception, social norms, attitudes, environmental identity) shape the person-environment interaction. In particular, her research is focused on the implications of this interaction for people, in terms of their resilience and adaptation to environmental changes, and on the implications of this interaction for the environment, in terms of environmental practices and public policies.

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