[anatnom]

From the paper[0]:

> Four predetermined questions were posed regarding sun exposure: (i) How often do you sunbathe during the summertime? (never, 1−14 times, 15−30 times, >30 times); (ii) Do you sunbathe during the winter, such as on vacation to the mountains? (no, 1−3 days, 4−10 days, >10 days); (iii) Do you use tanning beds? (never, 1−3 times per year, 4−10 times per year, >10 times per year); and (iv) Do you go abroad on vacation to swim and sunbathe? (never, once every 1–2 years, once a year, two or more times per year). The four questions were dichotomized into yes/no in the analysis (i.e. sometimes versus no or never). We created a four-score variable as a measure of sun exposure depending on the number of ‘yes’ responses to the above questions on a scale from 0 (avoid sun exposure: reference) to 4 (greatest sun exposure). Sun exposure habits were categorized into three groups: zero ‘yes’ responses (avoidance of sun exposure; the main study group); ‘yes’ responses to one or two questions (moderate exposure); and ‘yes’ responses to three or four questions (greatest exposure).

Of note, the surveys are of Swedish women and were conducted in Swedish. There could be some translation nuance for the word "sunbathe" which doesn't map well to English, or other cultural differences to explain the "but no one I know actually sunbathes..." thought that I immediately jump to.

[0] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/joim.12496

[wodenokoto]

> other cultural differences to explain the "but no one I know actually sunbathes..." thought that I immediately jump to.

Having grown up in Denmark that thought sounds odd to me. People really don’t sunbathe where you’re from?

What do people do on the beach, or in the park all summer? Not to mention at the tanning salon, before going on vacation to sunbathe at the beach (can’t look pale when sunbathing!)

[pinkmuffinere]

Just to affirm the parent post, yes, sunbathing has also been rather rare everywhere I lived: - South Dakota (USA) - Arizona (USA) - San Diego California (USA) - Ankara (Turkey/Türkiye)

I saw evidence that people sunbathed in some of these locations (it’s obvious on the beaches at least), but as far as I know none of my personal friends sunbathed. I suspect it’s just a cultural thing.

[dzhiurgis]

Growing up Lithuania the term is “burning yourself”

In NZ now - going to beach without protection even for an hour is suicide. Also avoid even going outside from 11am till 3pm at peak summer months.

[alvah]

"In NZ now - going to beach without protection even for an hour is suicide. Also avoid even going outside from 11am till 3pm at peak summer months."

I live in Western Australia, which is much sunnier than anywhere in NZ, and this sounds hyperbolic to me.

[dzhiurgis]

Perth at peaks is about 2 average points higher than Auckland [0]. UV index does happen at peaks too.

I've met plenty people here who "never wore a hat their life" and look like a prune. Personally I'm more comfortable at home than trying to find a shade everywhere you go.

0: https://www.ehinz.ac.nz/indicators/uv-exposure/daily-uv-leve...

[seszett]

Don't know about Australia but when I was on Kerguelen island which is at the same latitude as my homeplace on the coast of France, there was a very noticeable difference in UV content, you could absolutely burn in just an hour without protection (and it happened often).

[samus]

There are lots of other occasions to receive unhealthy doses of sunlight. And there are some activities that are like sunbathing, but people might not regard it as such, like reading a book, waiting at a bus stop, drinking a coffee outside, or walking at the beach.