Adolescents' attitudes and self-perceptions about anti-tobacco advocacy

Abstract

Communities are organizing into coalitions with the goal of reducing tobacco use, particularly among youth. Adolescents could make effective and persuasive anti-tobacco advocates in their respective communities, but their attitudes about tobacco advocacy and their perceptions of their own abilities as advocates are unknown. Therefore, the present project assessed attitudes and self-perceptions about anti-tobacco advocacy in 159 high school students attending a tobacco advocacy conference. After the meeting, they completed the Anti-Tobacco Advocacy Questionnaire, which has five factors (Activism, Personal Commitment, Banning Advertisements, Tobacco Morality and Peer Pressure to Use Tobacco). Overall, these high school students were moderately positive about anti-tobacco advocacy; girls more so than boys. Further, they were very positive about their own commitment to avoid tobacco and willingness to speak to others personally, but only moderately positive about their activism abilities. An implication is that community coalitions that include youth might want to focus on building their activism skills as they guide them in managing their youthful energy and enthusiasm.

Tobacco Use Prevention in Private High Schools

“…It is not surprising, therefore, that girls scored better in terms of their behavioral intentions, attitudes toward tobacco, and beliefs about peers and tobacco. This sex difference is consistent with research showing that southern teenage girls have more positive attitudes than boys toward anti-tobacco advocacy [12]. However, it is inconsistent with the national averages, in which girls and boys are about the same [2], or with Connecticut public and private school students in 1988-1996, where girls in grades 10-12 are more likely to smoke than boys [13].…”

Empowering Youth: Use of Technology in Advocacy to Affect Social Change

“…Common reasons people give for not being involved in advocacy include perceptions that they do not have the time or the skills and do not know where to begin (Galer‐Unti, Tappe & Lachenmayr, 2004). Carver, Reinert, Range, & Campbell (2003) reported that some youth may lack confidence in their ability to participate in activism.…”

Anti-Tobacco Education in Vacation Bible School in Mississippi: The Morality of Tobacco Prevention

“…Two behavioral intentions scales included items about intentions to avoid and ask others to avoid tobacco, or to benefit from tobacco companies/products. Behavioral Intentions [16] was 10 items about tobacco-related intentions (i.e., "If a friend offered me a cigarette, I would say no"), with high scores indicating intent to avoid tobacco. Note that in Carver et al [16], seven items involved asking others to refrain from using tobacco.…”