Why Teens Choose to Smoke and Continue to throughout Adulthood - Research Paper Example

Running Head: Smoking and Teens Smoking and Teens Why do Teenagers smoke, and continue to do so even in their Adulthood? Abstract The purpose of this study is to essentially examine the impact of various cognitive factors, psychological factors, demographic factors, social factors, as well as other personality factors on the smoking behavior amongst teenagers. A survey was conducted in 2008 amongst the college students in the United States between the ages of 15 to 25 where it was revealed that a majority of them had tried smoking at least once in their life (Butt, 2009). From amongst the students who had tried smoking, almost fifty percent of them were current smokers. Moreover, almost all of the students in that category revealed that they had tried their first cigarette before the age of seventeen. One of the major factors that contributed towards the high level of smoking amongst teenagers was the level of self-efficacy in the individual. Teenagers with low levels of self-efficacy were more likely to continue smoking in the future as compared to the ones with high levels of self-efficacy and conscientiousness. The study also revealed that one of the most significant factors that led towards the initiation of smoking could be peer pressure. Peer pressure plays an important role in the initiation, rather than continuation, of smoking amongst the teenagers. Introduction Although there has been a significant decrease in the level of smoking, especially in the United States, due to self-awareness programs, smoking amongst the teenagers has increased radically all over the world, in the past couple of years. It is estimated that in the United States, about 30% of the teenagers currently smoke, while in Europe, about 23% of the university students are regular smokers (Von Ah, 2005). Furthermore, it has become even more difficult to develop awareness programs related to the use of tobacco for the younger smokers, as they are less likely to heed health warnings related to smoking. Researchers have found that one of the reasons why teenagers continue to smoke is the assumption that they can easily quit smoking at any time that they desire (Von Ah, 2005). Their lack of concern regarding the health implications of smoking, along with their belief that they will be safe from the long-lasting effects of smoking, ultimately leads to the continued use of tobacco amongst the teenagers. In order for the psychologists as well as the health professionals to develop awareness programs regarding the use of tobacco, it is essential to understand all the factors that contribute towards the increased use of tobacco. Discussion One of the leading factors contributing towards the initiation of smoking would be peer pressure. Peer pressure varies between different races as well as gender. Although males tend to smoke more as compared to females, peer pressure is more prevalent amongst females as compared to males. Teenagers feel social pressure more than any other group in numerous ways, ranging from music choices to drugs as well as smoking. Although these teenagers may not want to pursue a certain path, they often tend to do so, owing to their admiration for their friends. They often feel that they might turn into a social outcast in case they refuse the offer of their friends. A research done in 1993 reported that school and peer pressure are the most important social factors that would influence the risk of smoking amongst teenagers (Rutter, 1993). Another factor that could contribute towards an increase in the smoking behavior amongst teenagers would be parental smoking. A study was conducted in 1995, where it was revealed that around 23% of the girls who belonged from families where the parents smoked, smoked themselves, compared with a mere 7% of girls who were smokers, although their parents did not smoke (Faucher, 2003). This kind of a pressure influences girls more as compared to boys, since they were often closer to their parents, both physically as well as emotionally, as compared to boys. Another reason for this behavior is the influence of mothers who smoked on their teenage daughters. One major factor that could lead towards an increased use of tobacco would be low self-esteem amongst teenagers. Due to low self-esteem, teenagers often felt that they have little control over their surroundings as well as their interpersonal style. In order to gain approval from various social groups, these teenagers are often more vulnerable to peer pressure when it comes to smoking. Since this feeling of low self-esteem is often more prevalent amongst females as compared to males, this factor is also said to influence the teenage girls more as compared to boys. Parental influence also plays a major role in determining the behavior of teenagers concerning the use of tobacco. A research found that a high level of involvement with their children, as well as effective discipline, both played an important role in influencing the behavior of the teenagers (McCord, 1996). Most parents, these days, need to work harder than before to live a comfortable. Since their schedules are busier than before, they are seldom able to supervise their child, which encourages these teenagers to use tobacco as well as drugs. Furthermore, due to a low level of connectedness with the parents, the child often has a stronger affiliation with his/her friends, as compared to their family, and is thus vulnerable to social pressure. Some individual personality factors also play a key role in determining the behavior of teenagers, concerning the use of tobacco. These personality factors, according to the Five Factor Model of Personality would include neuroticism, openness, conscientiousness, extraversion as well as agreeableness. Individuals who scored higher on neuroticism were more nervous in general, and were often very restless and spontaneous. Such teenagers were less concerned about the health implications surrounding the use of tobacco, and were more likely to be addicted to smoking as compared to individuals who scored low on neuroticism. Furthermore, teenagers who were more outgoing and scored high on the category ‘extraversion’ often smoked more regularly as compared to teenagers who were more introverted (Von Ah, 2005). On the other hand, a high score on the category ‘conscientiousness’ meant that the teenager was more concerned with the health factors associated with the use of smoking. Such teenagers were less likely to smoke, as they often seemed more concerned with the health implications that the use of tobacco carried. Although all the five personality factors play a major role in determining the smoking behavior of these teenagers, there have been few studies, to date, that reflect the association between the personality type and the use of tobacco. A significant factor that contributes towards an increased use of tobacco amongst the adolescents would be lack of coherence and self-efficacy. A sense of coherence means to have a more positive and a meaningful approach towards life. Individuals with a higher sense of coherence are often more likely to indulge in constructive activities, such as consumption of healthy food along with regular exercise. A study conducted in 2001 revealed that individuals who reported to have lower levels of sense of coherence were more likely to smoke (Van Loon, 2001). Another factor that led to smoking amongst teenagers would be lack of self-efficacy. Self-efficacy is defined as the degree of one’s belief in their own capabilities to reach certain goals in their life. Particularly, Bandura’s Theory of Self-Efficacy (1977) advocates that actions of different individuals are best determined by their level of confidence in their own capabilities. It can have a huge impact on the behavior of adolescents who want to quit smoking after a while, as well as on teenagers, when faced with tough circumstances. However, the role of self-efficacy needs to be studied even more, together with other cognitive and personality factors. A strong social support has shown to have a positive influence when it comes to the use of tobacco amongst teenagers. Individuals with a higher support from their families were less likely to get addicted to smoking as well as drugs as compared to teenagers from disturbed families. The use of alcohol, drugs as well as tobacco amongst teenagers is inversely related to the amount of emotional support provided by the families of the teenagers. The protective nature of parents, who are more involved in their child’s activities, often discourages them from the use of tobacco. Likewise, a major obstacle to smoking cessation amongst children in the United States was the lack of support by their families. However, even students from such protective families could start using drugs in case they are away from their families. These teenagers often tend to leave their families and move to different hostels for their university after their high school. Such students, who have never been away from home before, are often likely to conform to peer pressure, and thus start smoking. Demographic aspects also play a major role in determining the health behaviors of different teenagers. Although females are more likely to follow the crowd, they are also more likely to have a higher level of conscientiousness, which leads them to take protective health measures. These could include an intake of healthy food, along with a more consistent exercise pattern. One factor that is often overlooked by most researchers is the effect of media on the consumption of tobacco as well as alcohol. Media has played a vital role in encouraging the use of tobacco, amongst the teenagers through various ways. Although there have been various programs as well as news coverage that is designed specifically to discourage the use of tobacco, there have been illustrations of the use of tobacco in various movies, shows, entertainment media, various advertisements, political ads for elections as well as other forms of campaigns designed to promote the use of tobacco. In the United States, cigarettes are one of the most profoundly advertised products. In 2005, the tobacco industry spent around $13.5 billion on the advertisements of cigarettes alone. There have been other forms of promotions in the tobacco industry as well such as price discounts as well as other forms of print media (Morrison, 2011). All of these factors can lead to an increase in the consumption of cigarettes amongst the adolescents, since this category is likely to watch television more as compared to adults who are busy in their jobs. In addition to that, the use of cigarettes has been illustrated in almost ninety percent of the movies that occur in the box-office hits. This kind of an exposure is in a way publicizing the usage of cigarettes, and thus leads to the initiation of smoking amongst the youth. Conclusion Although no one factor can be directly blamed for the use of tobacco amongst adolescents, lack of self-efficacy could be the leading cause of the use of tobacco amongst teenagers. This is because it not only leads to an initiation of the use of tobacco, but also determines the frequency as well as the quantity of cigarettes smoked. Furthermore, individuals with low levels of self-efficacy are more likely to continue the use of cigarettes. The addictive nature of nicotine is often hard to let go of, and unless the individual is not determined enough, would not be able to leave smoking easily. Self-efficacy has been known to influence the time as well as the amount of energy an individual would invest in performing a certain task. In case the individual has a high level of self-efficacy, they would often be better able to prevent the initiation as well as the continued consumption of smoking, than individuals with a lower level of self-efficacy. Furthermore, in case a teenager has a high level of self-efficacy, they would be less likely to conform to social pressures when it came to the use of tobacco. Hence, in order to discourage the use of tobacco, the health benefactors need to develop programs that are specifically designed to increase the levels of self-efficacy through various intervention programs, amongst individuals who want to quit smoking. References American Lung Association. (2014). Children and Teens. Accessed at www.lungusa.org/stopsmoking/about-smoking/facts-figures/children-teens-and-tobacco.html on May 4, 2014. Butt, A. L., Anderson H. A., Gates D. J. (2009). Parental influence and effects of pro-smoking media messages on adolescents in Oklahoma. Journal of Oklahoma State Medical Association. 102:147-151. Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. (2013). The Rise of Cigars and Cigar-Smoking Harms. Accessed at www.tobaccofreekids.org/research/factsheets/pdf/0333.pdf on May 4, 2014. Dalton M. A. et al, (2003). Effect of Viewing Smoking in Movies on Adolescent Smoking Initiation: A cohort study. Lancet, 362: 281-5. Diane Von Ah, S. E. (2005). 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