Adolescent constructions of nicotine addiction.
The purpose of this qualitative study was to extend our understanding of how adolescents view nicotine addiction. This secondary analysis included 80 open-ended interviews with adolescents with a variety of smoking histories. The transcribed interviews were systematically analyzed to identify salient explanations of nicotine addiction. These explanations presuppose causal pathways of nicotine exposure leading to addiction and include repeated use, the brain and body "getting used to" nicotine, personal weakness, and family influences. A further explanation is that some youths pretend to be addicted to project a "cool" image. These explanations illustrate that some youths see themselves as passive players in the formation of nicotine addiction. The findings can be used in the development of programs to raise youth awareness about nicotine addiction.
Bottorff
Joan L
JL
Nursing and Health Behaviour Research Unit, School of Nursing, T201-2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 2B5, Canada. bottorff@nursing.ubc.ca
Johnson
Joy L
JL
Moffat
Barbara
B
Grewal
Jeevan
J
Ratner
Pamela A
PA
Kalaw
Cecilia
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D002170:Canada; D015984:Causality; D003073:Cognitive Dissonance; D003210:Concept Formation; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010379:Peer Group; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012931:Social Environment; D012938:Social Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology