scholarly journals EXPLANATION OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS’ SMOKING BEHAVIOR: A STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODEL APPROACH WITH THE THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIOR

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 172-182
Author(s):  
Dilek Sultan Acarli ◽  
Melek Yaman Kasap
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Theory Of Planned Behavior ◽  
Structural Equation Model ◽  
Planned Behavior ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Smoking Behavior ◽  
Psychological Theory ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
School Students

Smoking is a worldwide problem that threatens people’s health. The average age of smokers has decreased with each passing day. Thus, studies focusing on preventing children or teenagers from starting smoking or studies aiming to help people quit smoking are one of the most effective ways of the fight against smoking. In order to prevent smoking behavior of young people it is necessary to thoroughly examine the reasons of such behavior. In this study, smoking behavior of high school students was examined in the framework of Planned Behavior Theory, which is a socio-psychological theory (TPB, Ajzen, 1985). With the structural equation model, which was constructed by taking TPB components into account, factors affecting students’ smoking behavior were determined. Theory of Planned Behavior has explained the smoking behaviors of the participants in 72%. It was seen that the most important TPB component that affects students’ behavior is attitude, which is followed by subjective norm and perceived behavior control, respectively. The results indicate that one should work on attitude first and foremost, and thus on behavioral beliefs in order to make changes in the students’ tendency to smoke, in other words, in their behavior. Key words: health education, smoking, structural equation model, theory of planned behavior.

scholarly journals AN EXAMINATION OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS’ SMOKING BEHAVIOR BY USING THE THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIOR

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 497-507
Author(s):  
Dilek Sultan Acarli ◽  
Melek Yaman Kasap
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Theory Of Planned Behavior ◽  
Planned Behavior ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Smoking Behavior ◽  
School Students ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Planned Behavior Theory

Smoking has been recognized as one of the most important health problems. Thus, several preventive measures have been taken worldwide in order to reduce smoking. For these measures to be effective, the source of the problem should be thoroughly explored. To this end, this study aims to determine high school students’ smoking behavior and the factors affecting it. In the gathering of data, an interview form was used which was developed by the researchers in accordance with the directives of Planned Behavior Theory. Interviews were conducted according to problem-based interview method. Data were analyzed by using the qualitative data analysis program MAXqda, and was evaluated by using qualitative content analysis method. Findings of the research show that anti-smoking campaigns have been reflected in students’ beliefs towards smoking behavior. Differences between female and male students in terms of the beliefs affecting their smoking behavior were detected. It was seen that having no economic difficulty in accessing cigarettes and the fact that cigarettes are being sold disregarding the age-limit are facilitating factors for students to try smoking. Key words: health education, qualitative content analysis, smoking, theory of planned behavior.

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