Social Norms and Smoking Behavior in College Age Students

smoking behavior;college students;cigarette smoking;School of Health Professions and Studies: Health Education

Tucker, Kelly L.Flint ;

University of Michigan

关键词: smoking behavior;    college students;    cigarette smoking;    School of Health Professions and Studies: Health Education;   

Others  :  https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/117761/TuckerK.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

瑞士|英语

来源: The Illinois Digital Environment for Access to Learning and Scholarship

【 摘 要 】

The primary objectives of this study were to elicit information on college student’s actual smoking behavior and their perception of others smoking behavior and subjective norms to see if a relationship existed. A survey questionnaire was used to address the perception of tobacco use and actual smoking behavior. Fifty-Six college age students (18 to 24 years old) were solicited to complete the questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of questions regarding: the students feelings about cigarette smoking and then- perceived feelings of others including family, friends and significant others, the students own experience with cigarettes and the frequency o f their use of cigarettes, the students knowledge of others smoking behavior including, mother, father, siblings, partner, and friends. Results indicated that 55% of the sample had never tried a cigarette while 45% had tried. Of the 45% who tried smoking, 14% were regular smokers. The average age for the first time a participant tried a cigarette was 15 years old. Most students, 79%, indicated they felt smoking was not okay and they felt their parents and siblings thought smoking was not okay. Results found two signigicant interactions: (1) the relationship between the subjects smoking status and whether or not they felt that smoking was okay and (2) the relationship between the subjects smoking status and whether or not they thought their friends felt smoking was okay. Research specifically targeting college age students smoking behavior is limited. Health education programs regarding tobacco use for the college age student are also limited. With the understanding that peers and social norms have on smoking behavior health educators can develop targeted interventions and conduct further research.