Smoking decisions from a teen perspective: a narrative study.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the transitional phase between experimental and regular smoking from the perspective of teens.


METHODS
Narrative analysis of semistructured, individual interviews.


RESULTS
The need to belong and immediate social gain are major themes influencing teen smoking decisions.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings have significance for public health workers planning and implementing tobacco-use prevention programs aimed at teens whose smoking behaviors are not yet determined by nicotine addiction. How such programs have been traditionally framed and the ways in which peer influence and risk behaviors have been addressed may be largely irrelevant to the rationale of the adolescents themselves.
Baillie
Lynne
L
British Columbia Cancer Agency, Centre for the Southern Interior, Kelowna, BC, Canada. lbaillie@bccancer.bc.ca
Lovato
Chris Y
CY
Johnson
Joy L
JL
Kalaw
Cecilia
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D019365:Metaphor; D008960:Models, Psychological; D033262:Narration; D010379:Peer Group; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D012925:Social Conformity