Crossing the Smoking Divide for Young Adults: Expressions of Stigma and Identity Among Smokers and Nonsmokers

Abstract

Including empathic content in smoking denormalizing campaigns may reduce judgmental reactions that inadvertently create a gulf between status of young adult smokers and nonsmokers. A supportive/empathic tobacco-control denormalization approach could enhance young adult smokers' willingness to make the transition from smoker to smoke free and elicit stronger support for their efforts from nonsmokers.

Smoking as a Job Killer: Reactions to Smokers in Personnel Selection

“…For instance, people that smoke are viewed as social outcasts (Alesci et al 2003;Kim and Shanahan 2003) that are less attractive, likeable, clean, and healthy in comparison to those that do not smoke (Seiter et al 2010). Smoking is perceived as a signal of self-destructiveness, poor logical reasoning, and being low on the socio-economic spectrum (Bayer and Stuber 2006;McCool et al 2013).…”

“…At the same time, literature on stigmatization reports on the physical and psychological stresses from being stigmatized (Weiner et al 1988), and even the potential for intensified engagement in stigmatized behaviors (Steele and Aronson 1995). And, others (Bayer and Stuber 2006;McCool et al 2013;Stuber et al 2008) have begun questioning the ethics of looking down upon smokers given the magnitude of adverse consequences (e.g., the lack of adequate healthcare and research associated with smoking related illnesses, and reduced access to resources and opportunities in interpersonal and professional domains) that must be borne, for better or worse, by people who smoke.…”

Qualitative exploration of young adult RYO smokers' practices

“…While it offers cost advantages, negative stereotypes of heavily addicted, lower income smokers are inconsistent with the social identity most young adults seek 1 2 14 15. Managing the resulting dissonance requires creation of new, more positive connotations that young adults may pair with RYO tobacco to support their social personae 15 16…”

Shame-based appeals in a tobacco control public health campaign: potential harms and benefits

“…Research indicates about 40% of smokers and ex-smokers perceive substantial smoking stigma,11 with a ‘deep divide’ existing between smokers and non-smokers 12. While a minority of smokers report experiencing outright discrimination (eg, denial of work or housing), smokers may withstand many tiny insults (eg, purposeful coughing in their presence, glaring looks from non-smokers) 12.…”

“…While a minority of smokers report experiencing outright discrimination (eg, denial of work or housing), smokers may withstand many tiny insults (eg, purposeful coughing in their presence, glaring looks from non-smokers) 12. Smokers speak of ‘smoking islands’, the few remaining areas, largely isolated, where one can smoke without judgment 13.…”