'It won't happen to me': the knowledge-attitude nexus in adolescent smoking

Joumana S Yeretzian; Rema A Afifi

doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdp031

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'It won't happen to me': the knowledge-attitude nexus in adolescent smoking

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

'It won't happen to me': the knowledge-attitude nexus in adolescent smoking

Joumana S Yeretzian and Rema A Afifi

Journal of public health (Oxford, England), Vol.31(3), pp.354-359

09/2009

DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdp031

PMID: 19369226

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Abstract

Background Behavioral models state that adolescents need not only to know about the dangers of smoking, but also to perceive themselves as susceptible to those dangers prior to modifying their smoking behavior. However, this hypothesis has not been tested in developing world settings where the context of tobacco use may differ. Methods Survey data were collected from a sample of 1294 adolescents 13-20 years of age-from three under-privileged suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon. Scores were calculated to measure the knowledge of and the perceived susceptibility by a series of statements related to the consequences of tobacco use. Bivariate and multivariate methods were used to assess the association of knowledge and perceived susceptibility with smoking, controlling for socio-demographic variables. Results A logistic regression model showed that the odds of ever smoking among adolescents who had less knowledge of smoking were 1.9 times those of adolescents with more knowledge. Similar odds were demonstrated for adolescents who did not perceive themselves susceptible to smoking hazards compared with those who did. Conclusions These results suggest that awareness campaigns should focus on raising the perceived susceptibility of adolescents by including items that are more within the realm of an adolescent's frame of mind such as smelly clothes and discolored teeth.

perceived susceptibility

risks

adolescents

smoking

knowledge

Details

Title: Subtitle: 'It won't happen to me': the knowledge-attitude nexus in adolescent smoking
Creators: Joumana S Yeretzian - American University of Beirut
Rema A Afifi - American University of Beirut
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of public health (Oxford, England), Vol.31(3), pp.354-359
DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdp031
PMID: 19369226
NLM abbreviation: J Public Health (Oxf)
ISSN: 1741-3842
eISSN: 1741-3850
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Language: English
Date published: 09/2009
Academic Unit: Injury Prevention Research Center; Community and Behavioral Health
Record Identifier: 9984063200402771

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