Adolescents' view on smoking, quitting and health education

Abstract

Purpose -The aim of this paper is to explore the beliefs of 15-17 year-old Dutch adolescents about starting or quitting smoking and to explore their preferences regarding education concerning this topic. Design/methodology/approach -The paper shows that a total of 12 group interviews were held with 101 students in the highest classes in secondary school (lower and higher secondary school and first class of intermediate vocational education). Findings -The findings in this paper indicate that most adolescents started smoking to be cool and because they were curious about the taste of a cigarette. Smokers felt that smoking is sociable and relaxing, while non-smokers emphasized the negative consequences of smoking. Smokers expected to quit smoking when the price of cigarettes further increased, or when they fell ill as a result of smoking. They did not expect to receive social support from their friends and parents during a quit attempt. The hardest times during their quit attempts would be in the presence of smoking friends, when feeling stressed or during a night out. Adolescents preferred to receive future education through the internet. A web site should consist of much colour and animated images, but should also be serious. Originality/value -The paper shows that computer tailoring could be an effective method of educating adolescents about (quitting) smoking through the internet, since it links up with their personal situation and therefore relevant advice can be given.

The Prevalence and Determinants of Tobacco Use Among Adolescents in Saudi Arabia

“…Peer pressure and the desire to be cool and sociable lead to adolescents initiation of tobacco use. 20 We found that students with perceptions of father, family, and teacher support were less likely to be associated with tobacco use. Moreover, tobacco users in our study stated that they will not quit smoking if their teachers smoke.…”

“…Adolescents' behaviors follow a complex pattern of validation by peers, parents, and other role models. Peer pressure and the desire to be cool and sociable lead to adolescents initiation of tobacco use 20 . We found that students with perceptions of father, family, and teacher support were less likely to be associated with tobacco use.…”

“…Most adolescents start tobacco use to be cool and are curious about its taste. They feel that tobacco use helps them become social, reduces their stress, and keeps their weight down 20,21 . Therefore, adolescents are at increased risk for initiating tobacco use.…”

Image differentiation with corporate environmental responsibility

“…Dijk et al (2007) in their study in the Netherlands showed that children smoke to be 'cool' and because they are curious about the habit. Once they have started, as Wolburg (2008 p. 73) has noted, 'the best smoking cessation efforts in the world will not change the addictive nature of the product'.…”

Creative Learning Setting: Autonomous Self-Regulatory Support as Smoking Prevention

“…Considerable research has already focused on the optimal uptake of smoking prevention among adolescents (Bruvold, 1993;Furr-Holden et al, 2004;Maziak et al, 2003). Schoolbased smoking prevention seems to be a suitable setting to reach a cohort in the decisive developmental stages (Dijk et al, 2007;Lynagh et al, 1997). Particularly, within the narrow time frames available at school, an integration of a brief anti-smoking education lesson is suggested to have effective impact.…”