Motivational factors related to the tobacco smoking initiation among adolescent students in Ribeirão Preto/S / Fatores motivacionais relacionados ao início do tabagismo em estudantes adolescentes de Ribeirão Preto/SP

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2009

RESUMO

According to the World Health Organization, one third of the worlds adult population smokes. Nicotine dependence is associated with high mortality rates and damage to health, and its control has been considered a challenge to public health. An important aspect related to tobacco smoking is that it begins predominantly in adolescence. The objective of this research was to study the motivational factors associated with the initiation of tobacco smoking from the perception of smokers and non-smokers adolescents. The research has, both, a transverse and analytical outline with a convenience sample. The quantitative and qualitative methodological approach was used. There were 80 participants, both female and male adolescent students from a public high school in Ribeirão Preto/SP. Forty were smokers and the other 40 non-smokers and the parents were asked to complete a questionnaire. A semi-structured interview and the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control scale were used. The mean age of smokers students was 16.8 years old, and 16.2 years old for non-smokers. We observed a higher proportion of non-stable relationships among the smokers adolescents mothers, as well as more frequent used of alcoholic drinks in the smokers group. The most frequent age range of the first smoked cigarette was between 13 to 16 years old. Regarding daily consumption, 47.5% of the adolescents reported to smoke from 6 to 10 cigarettes. Concerning the Locus of Control Scale, no substantial statistic difference was observed between the smokers and non-smokers groups. For the Internality dimension, both smokers (52.5%) and non-smokers (47.5%) showed more frequent above average scores. As for the Externality-powerful others dimension, there was predominance of below average scores in both groups. At the Externality-chance dimension, it was most frequently observed above average scores for smokers (40%) and (30%) for non-smokers. For the qualitative analysis, in the non-smokers sample, most girls stated that what makes people start smoking is the relief from negative emotions, and for the boys, it was the imitation of a smokers model. The most frequent response from both genders was that the model given by a smokers person influences the adolescent to start smoking. Concerning their thoughts about smokers parents, most of the boys verbalized their opinion in the category smokers parents stimulate childrens curiosity, while most girls verbalized their opinion in the dont like category. Regarding their opinion about smokers friends, there was a female predominance in the category dont like as well as in the normal category. The male predominance was in the categories damaging your health and the peoples health around you and in dont like. In the smokers sample, the girls stated that what makes people start to smoke is the relief from negative emotions. The boys associated the beginning of tobacco smoking with aspects of adolescence. Regarding what influences adolescents to start smokers and their opinion about smoking parents, both genders pointed out the imitation of the model. The predominance in both genders of opinions in the categories normal and bad influence about smokers friends was observed. It is expected that this study may identify important steps to subsidize future programs and researches about control and prevention of tabagism.

ASSUNTO(S)

tobacco smoking motivação adolescence tabagismo motivation adolescência locus of control locus de controle

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