In their own voices: Iranian adolescent girls' views about smoking

Abstract

Background: Gender differences in use of substances are decreasing. Aims and Objectives: Understanding underlie reasons for smoking in the girls is the key for developing effective policy aimed at lowering the prevalence of smoking among girls and young females. Materials and Methods: In this conventional content analysis study, 11 Iranian adolescent girls aged 15-18 years old, was surveyed to explore their views about smoking. Through in-depth and semi-structured interviews, participants were encouraged to talk about their smoking behavior freely. Results: The results of this study revealed the following themes: Showing off, Conformance, Seeking to remove gender differences, and Confrontation. Conclusion: Based on these findings, we discovered an adolescent girl's smoking can somehow be a social activity mostly performed as a means whereby her social needs are met. Indeed, there is a parallel relationship between adolescents' need for smoking and their psychosocial and developmental needs.

The Long‐Term Effectiveness of a Multisetting Lifestyle Intervention on Tobacco‐Related Habits in Adolescent Boys and Girls: Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study

“…34 Despite the stigmatization of female smoking in the Middle East, girls associate this behavior with masculinity; they see smoking as an act of rebellion against gender discrimination in the family and society. 35 Gender also affects the adoption of preventive smoking initiatives. 36 Accordingly, no supporting evidence has been reported for the effectiveness of gendernonspecific antismoking programs on girls.…”

“…Girls' smoking has surpassed boys' in some developed countries and developing countries gradually step on the same road 34 . Despite the stigmatization of female smoking in the Middle East, girls associate this behavior with masculinity; they see smoking as an act of rebellion against gender discrimination in the family and society 35 . Gender also affects the adoption of preventive smoking initiatives 36 .…”

Perceptions of friendship, peers and influence on smoking according to socioeconomic status and tobacco control context: A systematic review and meta-ethnography of qualitative research

“…Six studies published after the introduction of comprehensive legislation contributed to data on contextual determinants (44)(45)(46)(47)(48)(49). Again, contextual themes comprised of culture, identity and socioeconomic status.…”

“…In terms of culture, in certain countries, such as Iran, there were contradictory perceptions of smoking for girls, such as 'high class' and 'elegant' versus stigmatised, immoral and unacceptable (44,45). Con dence to resist peer in uence was varied and dependent upon context, such as the cultural acceptance of girls' smoking (49).…”

“…Six studies published after the introduction of comprehensive legislation reported smoking as being part of identity construction and performance (44)(45)(46)(47)(48)63). The main ndings within this theme showed that a number of individual determinants contributed to adolescents' decision to start, and continue, to smoke, with a large proportion of the data focusing on smoking as a way of developing a sense of identity.…”