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Smoking-related attitudes and perceptions among young adults in Malta and the UK

Hamilton-West, Kate E., Mallia, Catriona (2010) Smoking-related attitudes and perceptions among young adults in Malta and the UK. Psychology Health and Medicine, 15 (3). pp. 347-356. ISSN 1354-8506. E-ISSN 1465-3966. (doi:10.1080/13548501003653200) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:25477)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13548501003653200

Abstract

Although youth smoking in Europe has been highlighted as a significant public health concern, there is little data available to guide development of population-specific smoking prevention measures. In this study, we examined smoking-prevalence and smoking-related attitudes and perceptions among 118 young adults in Malta (a country for which there is little existing data), with comparison data from a sample of young adults in the UK (N = 112). To ensure that samples were demographically similar (e.g. in terms of age, level of education, and social status) we obtained data from university students. Only students of Maltese nationality (in Malta), or British nationality (in the UK) were invited to participate. Participants completed measures of smoking behavior, perceived risks of smoking, subjective norms, temptation to smoke, and attitudes towards smoking cessation. Almost half (46%) of the Maltese students were current smokers, compared to 25% of the British students. British students were more aware of the risks of smoking than their Maltese counterparts, perceived greater social pressure not to smoke and held more positive attitudes towards smoking cessation; Maltese students reported greater temptation to smoke and were around others who smoke more often than the British students. Attitudes and perceptions were associated with smoking behavior in both samples although the relative importance of psychological determinants of smoking varied between the two samples. Our data indicate higher smoking prevalence and more pro-smoking attitudes/ perceptions among students in Malta, consistent with data for other Southern European countries. Findings also indicate that the influence of smoking-related attitudes and perceptions varies between populations and the influence of social norms in particular may be moderated by nationality.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1080/13548501003653200
Subjects: R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Psychology
Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research > Centre for Health Services Studies
Depositing User: Kate Hamilton-West
Date Deposited: 07 Sep 2010 11:54 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 10:03 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/25477 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Hamilton-West, Kate E..

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3160-0311
CReDIT Contributor Roles:
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