title: Reactions to Smoke-free Policies and Messaging Strategies in Support and Opposition: A Comparison of Southerners and Non-Southerners in the US.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We explored differences in support for smoke-free policies among Southerners versus non-Southerners within a quota-based non-probability sample of adults in the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2013, a cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 2501 adults assessing tobacco use, reactions to personal and public smoke-free policies, and persuasiveness of various message frames regarding smoke-free bar/restaurant policies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Southerners were no different from non-Southerners in support for most public and private smoke-free policies. The most effective pro-policy messages regarded hospitality, health, and individual rights/responsibilities; the most persuasive anti-policy messages involved individual rights/responsibilities. Compared to non-Southerners, Southerners rated pro-policy messages involving economic impact, religion/morality, and hospitality as more persuasive.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Factors other than public opinion accounting for lagging policy adoption must be explored.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA.
authors.forename: Carla J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion, Education & Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC.
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Thrasher
authors.affiliation: Chronic Disease Prevention Director, Georgia Department of Public Health, Office of Applied Public Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA.
authors.forename: Regine
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Haardörfer
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA.
authors.forename: Michelle C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kegler
keywords: health communication; secondhand smoke exposure; tobacco control