title: Cigarette Initiation Among Chinese Male Teenagers in Early Smoking Interactions.
abstract: To collect in-depth information regarding cigarette initiation interactions in the early smoking experimentation among male youth in China, twenty focus groups with male teenagers (N = 165) were conducted. Focus group discussions indicated a high prevalence of cigarette initiation among peers, and such initiation often translated into immediate smoking. Of the identified cigarette initiation appeals, "face" and normative pressure appeals were the most difficult to reject. Upon first initiation attempts, more teenagers accepted cigarettes than rejected them. The reasons behind both cigarette initiation and acceptance primarily related to facilitating social interaction. Upon being rejected, initiating teenagers (agents) who insisted on offering cigarettes often gained compliance. Profiles of peer agents were constructed in this study. Key practical implications suggest simultaneously prioritizing efforts to reduce cigarette initiation and encouraging cigarette refusal.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Communication Studies , Hong Kong Baptist University.
authors.forename: Vivian C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Sheer
authors.affiliation: b School of Communication , Ohio State University.
authors.forename: Chang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000073865:Cigarette Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D015995:Prevalence