Abstract
Several established school smoking prevention initiatives involve restrictions on places to smoke. The focus on tobacco control in schools is due to the risk of smoking initiation during adolescence and the perception of this life stage as a period of time when health behavior is established. Hence, this period of time is considered to be ideal for health-promoting initiatives. This paper is part of an ethnographic study on adolescents’ perceptions of tobacco use. Focus groups and field observations were used to explore adolescents’ smoking-related practices related to smoking bans at schools. The findings show that smoking, as a place-based practice, is influenced by locally embedded rules and carries social implications resulting in a distinction between smokers and non-smokers. The distinction between smokers and non-smokers contributes to the retention of a stereotypical view of smokers and, moreover, stigmatizes smokers. According to this, restrictions on places to smoke within the school should be considered carefully in order to avoid stigma or ethical issues.
Highlights
Despite an overall decline in smoking prevalence in many western countries during the last decades [1], smoking is still the leading cause of premature death and is considered to be one of the leading public health problems [2]
We know that early smoking initiation increases the risk that smoking continues into adulthood; adolescence is considered to be an ideal period of time to prevent smoking initiation [3,4]
The results suggested that school smoking bans could reduce pressure to conform to peers’ smoking behavior, and reduced the prevalence of smoking
Summary
Despite an overall decline in smoking prevalence in many western countries during the last decades [1], smoking is still the leading cause of premature death and is considered to be one of the leading public health problems [2]. An adolescent’s behavior is nested in a social and historical context and draws from behavior related to both childhood and adulthood. In this respect, behavior (e.g., smoking) often has a distinct social meaning in this specific life stage [5]. As well as refraining from smoking, are both considered to be important identity statements [6]. Research has found that smoking interferes with other life circumstances, and engaging in, as well as refraining from smoking, can be a way to internalize or resist a stigmatized identity [7]. Smoking identity can be deployed as social power, as smoking is found to help individuals feel included, express membership in their social groups, and maintain an identity that is valued within these groups [8]
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