South Korean Adolescents' Intention to Smoke

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Adolescent Health
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Adolescent smoking remains a significant public health concern globally.
• Understanding the psychological and environmental factors influencing smoking initiation is crucial for effective prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between intention to smoke and key constructs of the Theory of Planned Behavior (attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control) in South Korean adolescents.
• To explore the influence of the number of licensed tobacco retailers near schools on adolescent smoking intention.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional correlational study design.
• Survey administered to 740 adolescents aged 13-15 in Seoul, South Korea.
• Multilevel modeling used for data analysis.

Main Results:

• Attitude toward smoking and perceived behavioral control were significant independent predictors of smoking intention.
• Subjective norm was a significant predictor initially but not when all factors were considered together.
• The density of licensed tobacco retailers near schools was also a significant predictor of smoking intention.

Conclusions:

• Adolescent smoking prevention programs should address individual attitudes and perceived control over smoking.
• Environmental factors, specifically the proximity of tobacco retailers, play a role and should be considered in policy development.
• Interventions targeting both psychological determinants and environmental influences are necessary for comprehensive tobacco control among adolescents.