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Cited by 75Death Anxiety and Social ExclusionMedia Influence and HealthDeath, Funerary Practices, and Mourning

Bronze is beautiful but pale can be pretty: The effects of appearance standards and mortality salience on sun-tanning outcomes

Cox, Cathy R., Cooper, Douglas P., Vess, Matthew, Arndt, Jamie, Goldenberg, Jamie L., Routledge, Clay·2009·Health Psychology
DOI 10.1037/a0016388
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Using the terror management health model (J. L. Goldenberg & J. Arndt, 2008), the authors examined tanning outcomes as a function of priming tanning-relevant standards for attractiveness after reminders of death. DESIGN: Study 1 consisted of 101 female college students recruited from a midwestern university; Study 2 consisted of 53 female participants recruited from a beach in south Florida. In both experiments, participants answered questions about their mortality or a control topic, and were presented with a fashion article that highlighted either the attractiveness of tanned (just in Study 1), pale, or natural-looking skin. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reported suntan intentions (Study 1) and sunscreen intentions (Study 2). Study 2 also assessed participants' interest in various sun protection products. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Study 1 demonstrated that mortality salience led to higher tanning intentions when the association between tanned skin and physical attractiveness was made salient and reduced intentions when the attractiveness of paler skin was highlighted. In Study 2, beachgoers, after reminders of death, reported greater preference for high sun protection sunscreen after reading an article about the attractiveness of paler skin tones. These findings contribute to an emerging understanding of how mortality concerns can influence health-related judgment and behavior.

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Crossref · 10.1037/a0016388

Cites

21 of 21 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • When college women were primed with the message that 'bronze is beautiful,' MS increased tanning intentions.

    “When college women were primed with the message that 'bronze is beautiful,' MS increased tanning intentions”

    From When Death is Good for Life: Considering the Positive Trajectories of Terror Management (2012) · cites this paper as Cox et al., 2009

  • When primed with 'pale is pretty,' MS reduced tanning intentions.

    “when primed with 'pale is pretty,' MS reduced tanning intentions.”

    From When Death is Good for Life: Considering the Positive Trajectories of Terror Management (2012) · cites this paper as Cox et al., 2009

  • When women are exposed to standards of beauty suggesting that pale skin is pretty rather than bronze as beautiful, mortality salience reduces women's intentions to expose themselves to harmful ultraviolet radiation.

    “Additionally, research has shown that when women are exposed to standards of beauty suggesting that pale skin is pretty (vs.bronze as beautiful), MS reduces women's intentions to expose themselves to harmful ultraviolet radiation [33];”

    From An Appreciative View of the Brighter Side of Terror Management Processes (2015) · cites this paper as [33]

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Related

Authors
Cox, C. R., Cooper, D. P., Vess, M., Arndt, J., Goldenberg, J. L., & Routledge, C.
Affiliations
  • University of Missouri (US)
  • University of South Florida (US)
  • North Dakota State University (US)
ORCID
Venue
Health Psychology
Publisher
American Psychological Association (APA)
Published
2009
Volume
28
Issue
6
Pages
746-752
ISSN
  • 0278-6133 (ISSN-L)
  • 1930-7810
DOI
10.1037/a0016388
OpenAlex
W2001627137
Cited by
75
References
21
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 4
FWCI
6.07
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Health Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Digital Commons - University of South Florida (University of South Florida) (submittedVersion)
Funders
National Cancer Institute (R01CA09658)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Literature and Literary Theory › Media Influence and Health
  • Social Sciences › Anthropology › Death, Funerary Practices, and Mourning
Keywords
mortality salience, terror management theory, sunscreen use, appearance standards, fear of death, sun protection behavior, beachgoers, health behavior
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Attitude to Health, Beauty, Female, Florida, Humans, Mortality, Sunburn, Sunscreening Agents, Ultraviolet Rays, Consumer Health Information, Sunbathing, Young Adult

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