Bergen Tanning Addiction Scale 1 Tanning Addiction: Conceptualisation, Assessment, and Correlates C. S. Andreassen1,*, S. Pallesen2, T. Torsheim2, Z. Demetrovics3 and M. D. Griffiths4 1Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway 2Department of Psychosocial Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway 3Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary 4International Gaming Research Unit, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK *Corresponding author: Cecilie Schou Andreassen, Christiesgt. 12, 5015 Bergen, Norway. E-mail:
[email protected] Word Count: Abstract 247; main text 3173; 1 figure; 4 tables; 1 appendix Funding Sources: None Conflicts of Interest: None declared What’s already known about this topic; what does this study add? • A number of recent studies suggest that tanning has the potential to be addictive. • This study describes a new brief screening tool for assessing tanning addiction based on contemporary addiction theory and core addiction criteria. • Use of the scale can facilitate treatment and estimate the prevalence of tanning addiction in general populations worldwide. Bergen Tanning Addiction Scale 2 Abstract Background: Research into problematic tanning (or ‘tanning addiction’) has markedly increased over the past few years. Although several excessive tanning instruments exist, most of these are psychometrically poor, not theoretically anchored, and have mainly been used on small samples. Objective: Against this background, a new tanning addiction scale was developed based on a specific theoretical approach utilising core addiction criteria. Methods: A scale comprising seven items (i.e. salience/craving, mood modification, tolerance, withdrawal, conflict, relapse/loss of control, and problems) was administered online to a cross-sectional convenience sample of 23,537 adults (Mage=35.8 years, SD=13.3), together with an assessment of demographic factors, the five-factor model of personality, and symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety and depression.