Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

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Open Access Thesis

Keywords

University of Northern Iowa--Students--Tobacco use; University of Northern Iowa; College students--Tobacco use--Iowa--Cedar Falls; College students--Tobacco use; Students--Tobacco use; Iowa--Cedar Falls; Academic theses;

Abstract

The purpose of this study primarily, was to investigate and identify the influence of the four focus areas (media, family, peer, and psychological coping technique) on the smoking behavior among female and male college students of the University of Northern Iowa. A description of differences in the influences of the focus areas on the smoking behavior on gender was included in the study. A non-random (convenient) sample of 100 students was drawn from the various Departments and Schools from five colleges in the University (57% males and 43% females).

The Sample responded to a 44-item self-report (survey) questionnaire. Overall means and standard deviations were reported regarding the four focus areas and each item on the questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted using One-way analysis of variance (ANOV A) to determine the difference in gender as regard the four focus areas, including items in the "other influences" category. Test of statistical significance was conducted concerning participants' current age, age at which they first tried cigarette, age at which they started smoking regularly, and the number of cigarettes they smoked per day or weekly against gender.

The findings of the study indicated that participants agreed on "using cigarette as a psychological-coping technique" but disagreed on the influence of the family, peer, and media advertising on their smoking behavior. They agreed on some items such as "alcohol consumption under the "other influence" category.

The study found significant difference in the smoking behavior among male and female respondents as regard the influence of peer, family, current age, and age at which they first tried cigarette. There was no significant difference in the influence of media advertising, using cigarette as a psychological-coping technique and some items under the "other influences" category. A non-significant difference was also found concerning the age at which they started smoking regularly, and the number of cigarettes they smoked per day or weekly.

Based on the result of the study it was concluded that participants mostly used cigarette smoking as a psychological-coping technique. The student smokers reported that stressful situations both on and off campus influenced their smoking behavior a great deal. It was recommended that the University should plan and implement programs that would educate students better on the negative health effects of cigarette smoking. The University again should find means of reducing stressful situations on campus as well as suggest other coping-options for the students, and that these programs must be gender and age appropriate.

Year of Submission

2003

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

School of Health, Physical Education, and Leisure Services

First Advisor

Catherine Zeman

Second Advisor

Dennis Cryer

Third Advisor

Diane Depken

Comments

If you are the rightful copyright holder of this thesis and wish to have it removed from the Open Access Collection, please submit a request to scholarworks@uni.edu and include clear identification of the work, preferably with URL.

Date Original

2003

Object Description

1 PDF file (90 leaves)

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

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