The Mediating Roles of Smoking-related Perception: Smoking, Education and Awareness
Smoking, Education & Awareness
Abstract
A sharp increase in the prevalence of smoking among adolescents is a significant public health concern. This study is among the first in the literature to explore the mediating effect of perceptions of smoking-related risks on the relationships between smoking and educational and awareness factors among adolescents. Data from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey Timor-Leste were analysed. Probit regression models were utilised to evaluate the impacts of demographic, educational and awareness factors on the likelihood of smoking. The mediating role of smoking risk perception was examined using structural equation modeling. Contrary to common findings, the perception of smoking-related risks was positively linked to the likelihood of smoking. Adolescents who were aware of tobacco control messages in mass media, received education on the risks of smoking and engaged in family discussions about tobacco use had higher perception of smoking-related risks than others, which in turn could impact adolescents’ smoking behaviour. However, the relationships between smoking and exposure to graphic or text warnings on cigarette packs, as well as reading school texts that included topics about smoking were not influenced by smoking-related perceptions. In summary, the perception of smoking-related risks mediates the associations between smoking and particular educational and awareness factors among adolescents.
Keywords :
Adolescents; awareness; education; perception; smoking,
Abstrak
Peningkatan mendadak dalam kelaziman merokok dalam kalangan remaja merupakan satu kebimbangan serius dalam kesihatan awam. Kajian ini merupakan antara yang terawal dalam literatur yang mengkaji kesan pengantaraan persepsi terhadap risiko merokok dalam hubungan antara tabiat merokok dengan faktor pendidikan dan kesedaran dalam kalangan remaja. Data yang digunakan dalam kajian diperoleh daripada Global Youth Tobacco Survey Timor-Leste. Model regresi probit digunakan untuk menilai pengaruh faktor demografi, pendidikan dan kesedaran terhadap kebarangkalian merokok. Peranan pengantaraan persepsi terhadap risiko merokok dianalisis menggunakan pemodelan persamaan struktur. Bertentangan dengan penemuan umum, persepsi terhadap risiko merokok didapati mempunyai hubungan positif dengan kebarangkalian merokok. Remaja yang peka terhadap mesej kawalan tembakau di media massa, menerima pendidikan berkaitan risiko merokok dan terlibat dalam perbincangan keluarga mengenai penggunaan tembakau, mempunyai tahap persepsi terhadap risiko merokok yang lebih tinggi berbanding remaja lain, dan faktor ini berkemungkinan mempengaruhi tingkah laku merokok mereka. Namun begitu, hubungan antara tabiat merokok dengan pendedahan kepada amaran grafik atau teks pada kotak rokok, serta pembacaan teks sekolah yang mengandungi topik tentang merokok tidak dimediasi oleh persepsi berkaitan merokok. Sebagai kesimpulan, persepsi terhadap risiko merokok bertindak sebagai pengantara dalam hubungan antara tabiat merokok dengan beberapa faktor pendidikan dan kesedaran tertentu dalam kalangan remaja.
Kata Kunci :
Kesedaran; merokok; pendidikan; persepsi; remaja,
Correspondance Address
Yong Kang Cheah. School of Economics, Finance and Banking, College of Business, Universiti Utara Malaysia, 06010 Sintok, Kedah, Malaysia. Tel: +604 9286870 E-mail: yong@uum.edu.my
