Mothers of young children (N = 151) participated in an ultraviolet (UV) intervention designed to change attitudes related to UV-safe behavior. The intervention consisted of a colorful brochure and information card pertaining to photoaging and skin cancer, UV photography, and a persuasive message designed to induce either reactance or hypocrisy, depending on experimental condition. It was expected that inducing reactance would lead to a less effective intervention whereas inducing dissonance would improve intervention effectiveness.;Participants were given information about reducing their UV exposure and increasing UV protection. The information was presented in conjunction with either a forcefully persuasive message, an open-ended dialogue, or without persuasion. The women's willingness and intention to seek UV exposure, their intention to protect themselves, their perceived vulnerability to negative consequences, and their willingness and intention to protect their children and allow their children to obtain UV exposure were assessed. The use of UV photography for half of the intervention recipients provided concrete evidence of UV damage. Negative affect and self-esteem were also assessed to explore the mechanisms underlying intervention effectiveness. Unexpectedly, participants who reported the greatest level of negative affect---those who received a forceful persuasive message and saw their UV photo---also reported a greater intention than participants with less negative affect to protect themselves from future UV damage.;There was evidence of a trend that participants who received a forcefully persuasive message responded with psychological reactance in the form of greater willingness in comparison with participants who received a less persuasive message. Overall, results tended to support the importance of using UV photographs in conjunction with a forcefully persuasive message to boost intervention effectiveness. Results also supported the use of invoking parental protectiveness in motivating mothers to change their own UV-risk behavior and to be more vigilant about protecting themselves and their children. The role of dissonance in improving the effectiveness of the intervention was not supported.;Public health campaigns to reduce skin cancer can benefit by incorporating a persuasive UV intervention. To maximize effectiveness, the intervention should utilize UV photographs, parental protectiveness, and an informational yet persuasive message.