Adolescent Smoking

Research Paper # 100993

Child, Youth Issues > Teen, Adult Issues
Medical and Health > Drugs
Psychology > Alcohol and Drugs
Psychology > Child and Adolescent
Research Designs

Adolescent Smoking

This paper is a literature review of research studies to determine if adolescents' personal conceptions of smoking or addiction deter or encourage them to smoke.

2,200 words () | 7 sources | APA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper relates that this literature review about adolescent smoking indicates the complex socio-cultural context in which personal conceptions arise. The author points out that, among the numerous variables affecting these conceptions are race, ethnicity, socio-cultural expectations, gender, peer group and nicotine. The paper summarizes that this literature review reveals that adolescents' conceptions both deter and encourage smoking. The author reports that all the researchers use quantitative methodologies and interpretive paradigms; however, a major limitation, which is common for all these studies, is that they are based on self-reports.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
The Studies
Discussion
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Rasmussen-Cruz, Martin & Nuno-Gutierrez's (2006) purpose was to explore tobacco consumption and motives for use among university students. The research question was: why do university health sciences students who are informed about tobacco risks consume tobacco? The design was a basic quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study. The method was an online survey of 282 students, aged 15 to 24. The authors used an interpretive paradigm. The results were that conceptions involved motives such as coping with emotional problems, reported by 76 percent."

Sample of Sources Used:

Becklake, M. & Ghezzo, H. (2005). Childhood predictors of smoking in adolescence: A follow-up study of Montreal schoolchildren. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 173 (4), 377-380.
Gervais, A., J. O'Loughlin & Meshefedjian, G. (2006). Milestones in the natural course of onset of cigarette use among adolescents. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 175 (3), 255-262.
Hu, M. & Davies, M. (2006). Epidemiology and correlates of daily smoking and nicotine dependence among young adults in the United States. American Journal of Public Health, 96 (2), 299-309.
Malow-Iroff, M. (2006). Cross-sex best friendship influences on early adolescent cigarette and alcohol expectancies and use. The Journal of Psychology, 140 (3), 209-228.
Muilenburg, J. & Johnson, W. (2006). Racial disparities in tobacco use and social influences in a rural southern middle school. The Journal of School Health, 76 (5), 195-201.