Smokeless tobacco and cigarettes: differential attitudes and behavioral intentions of young adolescents toward a hypothetical new peer

J Clin Child Psychol. 1998 Dec;27(4):415-22. doi: 10.1207/s15374424jccp2704_5.

Abstract

Examined adolescents' perceptions of cigarette smokers and smokeless tobacco users. Participants were 562 middle school students in rural Florida who viewed 1 of 6 videotapes of a hypothetical peer (i.e., actor) who would soon be attending their school. The videotapes differed only as a function of sex (boy or girl) and tobacco condition (no tobacco, cigarette, smokeless tobacco). After viewing the videotape, participants completed 2 measures designed to assess attitudes and behavioral intentions toward the peer. Results indicated that (a) the actor in the no-tobacco condition was rated more favorably than actors in the other two conditions, although the actor in the smokeless-tobacco condition was rated more favorably than the actor in the cigarette condition; (b) girls viewed the actor in smokeless-tobacco condition more favorably than did boys; (c) compared to nonsmokers, adolescents with a cigarette use history provided more favorable ratings for the actor in the cigarette condition. Taken together, results suggest that different types of tobacco use may have a different impact on social image within the young adolescent population.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adolescent Behavior*
  • Advertising
  • Attitude*
  • Child
  • Education
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interpersonal Relations
  • Male
  • Plants, Toxic*
  • Rural Population
  • Smoking / psychology*
  • Tobacco, Smokeless*