Abstract
The objective of this study was to examine the effect of self-concept levels and perceived academic achievements of sixth, seventh and eighth grade primary school students upon their perceptions about smoking. The data were collected with the Socio-Demographic Data Collection Form, Pier-Herris Self-Concept scale and Children's Decision Balance Scale. The study sample consisted of 374 students receiving education in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades of three primary schools, which were selected among primary schools of Izmir Provincial Directorate for National Education representing three socio-economic groups with a simple random sampling method. The data were collected in December 2012-January 2013. Percentages and the t test were used in the evaluation of the data. While students with a positive self-concept had score averages of 7.12±2.18 regarding the lower dimension of smoking pros and 29.0±2.47 regarding the lower dimension of smoking cons, their counterparts with a negative self-concept had score averages of 8.61±3.76 (p=0.000) and 28.1±3.49 (p=0.004), respectively. According to self-perception, there was statistical difference between perceptions of students regarding smoking (p<0.01). While students perceiving themselves successful had score averages of 7.81±3.13 and 28.5±3.19 regarding the lower dimension of smoking benefit and harm, students perceiving themselves unsuccessful had score averages of 8.27±3.39 (p=0.333) and 29.01±2.05 (p=0.235), with no difference determined. Students with a positive self-perception had a low perception of smoking pros and a high perception of smoking cons. Perception of academic achievement did not affect the pros and cons perceptions of children regarding smoking.
Highlights
Being a very common addiction type, smoking is among the major public health problems of the world due to the negative effects of substances within the tobacco and its smoke upon the human health (Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, 2008; WHO, 2013).Even though the spreading speed of smoking partially started to decelerate together with the decision of the General Assembly of the World Health Organization (WHO) concerning “smoking is harmful to health” in 1970, smoking is still one of the most important health problems in the world (Akdur, 2009; Bilir, 2009)
While students with a positive perception of self-concept had a score average of 7.12±2.18 regarding the lower dimension of smoking benefit, students with a negative perception of self-concept had a score average of 8.61±3.76
It is observed in many studies that adolescents with a negative self-concept perception have a greater frequency of smoking compared to adolescents with a positive self-concept perception (Bonaguro and Bonaguro, 1987; Kawabata et al, 1999; Yorulmaz et al, 2002; Snow and Bruce, 2003; Smith et al, 2004; Wild et al, 2004; Babington and Kelley, 2009; Kavas 2009)
Summary
Being a very common addiction type, smoking is among the major public health problems of the world due to the negative effects of substances within the tobacco and its smoke upon the human health (Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, 2008; WHO, 2013).Even though the spreading speed of smoking partially started to decelerate together with the decision of the General Assembly of the World Health Organization (WHO) concerning “smoking is harmful to health” in 1970, smoking is still one of the most important health problems in the world (Akdur, 2009; Bilir, 2009). Smoking is a risk factor for six out of eight diseases that cause the greatest rate of death worldwide. Majority of these diseases and deaths (86%) are encountered in developing countries like Turkey (WHO, 2013). In case that the consumption rates of cigarettes decrease at a rate of 50% worldwide, the death of at least 200 million people caused by smoking will be prevented until 2050 (Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, 2008). The objective of this study was to examine the effect of self-concept levels and perceived academic achievements of sixth, seventh and eighth grade primary school students upon their perceptions about smoking. Perception of academic achievement did not affect the pros and cons perceptions of children regarding smoking
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