Smoking Behavior, Perceived Stress Levels and Tobacco Control Policies of Public Tertiary Students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18373707Keywords:
Smoking Behavior, Tobacco Use, Perceived Stress Levels, Public, Tertiary Students, Tobacco Control PoliciesAbstract
This study explores the connections between smoking behavior, perceived stress, and tobacco control policies among public tertiary students at Cebu Technological University-Tuburan Campus in the Philippines, particularly focusing on the Bachelor of Industrial Technology (BIT) department. It highlights adolescents and young adults as a vulnerable group for tobacco use, driven by factors such as curiosity, peer pressure, and family influences. The high prevalence of smoking in this demographic poses significant public health risks, especially in low- and middle-income countries. A quantitative approach was utilized, employing structured surveys to gather data on demographics, smoking habits, stress levels, and perceptions of tobacco policies. The study primarily targeted students aged 18-23. Key findings reveal that most tobacco users are male and from rural backgrounds, with cigarettes being the most common product used. Daily smoking is prevalent among this group. The main sources of perceived stress include relationship issues and financial concerns. Although current tobacco control policies are perceived as weak deterrents, they do influence some students' intentions to quit smoking.
The study concludes with a recommendation for a comprehensive Student Development Program aimed at providing social support and educational resources to reduce smoking rates among freshmen. This program is designed to address the specific needs of this student population, emphasizing the importance of creating a supportive environment for behavior change.
Downloads
References
Arellano Law Foundation. (n.d.). Republic Act 9211: An act regulating the packaging, use, sale distribution and advertisements of tobacco products and for other purposes. https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2003/ra_9211_2003.html
Barroso-Hurtado, M., Suárez-Castro, D., Martínez-Vispo, C., Becoña, E., & López‐Durán, A. (2023). Perceived stress and smoking cessation: The role of smoking urges. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(2), Article 1257. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20021257
3.Bartington, S. E., Wootton, R., Hawkins, P., Farley, A., Jones, L. L., & Haroon, S. (2020). Smoking behaviours and attitudes towards campus-wide tobacco control policies among staff and students: A cross-sectional survey at the University of Birmingham. BMC Public Health, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-8321-9
Berg, C. J., Yang, Y. T., Pratt-Chapman, M. L., Douglas Evans, W., Cupertino, A. P., Horn, K., Bernat, D. H., Abroms, L. C., & Tercyak, K. P. (2020). Campus tobacco control policies and cessation interventions in college students: A commentary calling for research and action to address tobacco-related health disparities. Translational Behavioral Medicine, 11(4), 1030–1036. https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibaa083
Cairney, P. (2019). The transformation of UK tobacco control: The Copenhagen metropolitan 'fingerplan'.
Cohen, S., Kamarck, T., & Mermelstein, R. (1983). A global measure of perceived stress. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 24(4), 385–396. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00708612
Choi, D., Ota, S., & Watanuki, S. (2015). Does cigarette smoking relieve stress? Evidence from the event-related potential (ERP). International Journal of Psychophysiology, 98(3), 470–476. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2015.10.005
Chung, B.H., & Park, J.S. (2009). The mediating role of perceived stress in the relationship between family conflict and adolescent smoking. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 38(2), 247–255.
Garrett, B.E., Martell, B.N., Caraballo, R.S., & King, B.A. (2019). Socioeconomic differences in cigarette smoking among sociodemographic groups. Preventing Chronic Disease, 16.
Grilo, G., Crespi, E., & Cohen, J.E. (2021). A scoping review on disparities in exposure to advertising for e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products and implications for advancing a health equity research agenda. International Journal for Equity in Health, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-021-01576-2
Hair, E.C., Holtgrave, D.R., Romberg, A.R., Bennett, M., Rath, J.M., Diaz, M.C., & Vallone, D.M. (2019). Cost-effectiveness of using mass media to prevent tobacco use among youth and young adults: The FinishIt campaign. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(22), Article 4312.
Hammond, D., Wackowski, O.A., Reid, J.L., & O’Connor, R.J. (2018). Use of JUUL e-cigarettes among youth in the United States. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 22(5), 827–832.
Ho, Y., Lee, H., Lin, M., & Chang, H.(2020). Correlations among life stress, smoking behavior, and depressive symptoms in adolescents: A descriptive study with a mediating model.Nursing & Health Sciences, 22(4), 949–957.
Lawless,M.H., Harrison,K.A., Grandits,G.A., Eberly,L.E.& Allen,S.S.(2015). Perceived stress and smoking-related behaviors and symptomatology in male and female smokers.Addictive Behaviors,51 ,80–83.
Leventhal,A.M.,Urman,R.BarringtonTrimis,J.L.Goldenson,N.I.Gallegos,K.Chou,C.P.Wang,
K.Berhane,K.Cruz,T.B.Pentz,M.A.Unger,J.& McConnell,R.S.(2017). Perceived stress and poly-tobacco product use across adolescence: Patterns of association and gender differences.Journal of Psychiatric Research,94 ,172–179.
Lindström,M.& Rosvall,M.(2018). Addictive behaviors,social and psychosocial factors,and electronic cigarette use among adolescents:a population-based study.Public Health,155 ,129–132.
Mantey,D.S.Clendennen,S.I.Sumbe,A.Wilkinson,A.V.& Harrell,M.B.(2022). Perceived stress and e-cigarette use during emerging adulthood:a longitudinal examination of initiation progression,and continuation.Preventive Medicine,160 ,107080.
Masluha,Rohmi,F.& Nurbadriyah,W.D.(2023). The association between stress level and smoking behavior in Gondanglegi junior high school boys.Journal of Nursing Science Update (JNSU) ,10(2) ,186–192.
Resano,J.E.Guace,M.N.Manicio,Z.Serrano,S.M.Sicat,S.P.Moreno,P.J.Semaña,A.G.Banzon,Y.B.Domingo-Gonzaga,...C.L.Nanca-Atayde,C.Regencia,Z.J.& Baja,E.(2022). Prevalence and risk factors of smoking and vaping among nursing students in a private university in Manila Philippines.Philippine Journal of Science ,151(1) .https://doi.org/10.56899/15101 .31
Robles,Z.Anjum,S.Garey,L.Kauffman,B.Y.Rodríguez-Cano,R.Langdon,K.J.Neighbors,C.Reitzel,L.R.& Zvolensky,M.J.(2017). Financial strain and cognitive-based smoking processes: The explanatory role of depressive symptoms among adult daily smokers.Addictive Behaviors ,70 ,18–22.
Ruffin,L.Swilley,B.R.Berg,J.A.Douglass,B.Ruffin,W.& Padden-Denmead,M.(2024). The chronic nature of smoking and vaping:a comprehensive analysis.The Journal for Nurse Practitioners ,20(2) ,104903.
Stubbs,B.Veronese,N.Vancampfort,D.Prina,A.M.Lin,P.Y.Tseng,P.T.Evangelou,E.Solmi,M.Kohler,C.Carvalho,A.F.& Koyanagi,A.(2017). Perceived stress and smoking across 41 countries:a global perspective across Europe Africa Asia and the Americas.Scientific Reports ,7(1) .https://doi.org/10 .1038/s41598-017-07579-w
Torres,O.V.& O’Dell,L.E.(2016). Stress is a principal factor that promotes tobacco use in females.Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry ,65 ,260–268.
Wamamili,B.Wallace-Bell,M.Richardson,A.Gracer,R.C.& Coope,P.(2020). Electronic cigarette use among university students aged 18–24 years in New Zealand:results of a 2018 national cross-sectional survey.BMJ Open ,10(6) ,e035093.
Wu,D.Yang,T.Stillman,F.Guo,W.Zhou,H.& Feng,X.(2018). Assessment of tobacco control advocacy behavioural capacity among public health faculty and students:a cluster intervention study.Public Health ,165 ,95–105.
Yingst,J.M.Krebs,N.M.Bordner,C.R.Hobkirk,A.L.Allen,S.I.& Foulds,J.(2021). Tobacco use changes and perceived health risks among current tobacco users during the COVID-19 pandemic.International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ,18(4) ,1795.
Zhang,S.Meng,Y.Chakraborty,A.K.& Wang,H.(2024). Controlling smoking:a smoking epidemic model with different smoking degrees in deterministic and stochastic environments.Mathematical Biosciences ,368 ,109132.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
