Factor affecting Smoking behavior of Undergraduate students in Burapha University

Abstract

The research was a descriptive study to determine the factors that influence smoking among
Burapha University students, Chonburi Province. Four hundred fifty three students were
selected by systematic sampling. The instrument was a questionaire where validity and
reliability were tested. The data was analysed by using the percentage, mean, standard
deviation, and chi-square. We found that mean age of students was 20.84 years. Female was
69.30%. Their hometowns were in eastern region (39.50%). The majority (69.30%) stayed with
their parents. Parents were living together up to 79.70%. About 80.40% of benefactors were
their own parents. Most of them (43.05%) were given around 2,000-5,000 Baht per month,
and most of them (51.20%) spent around 2,000-5,000 Baht a month either. Smoking rate was
9.27%. As comparing between smokers and non-smokers, male smoked cigarette more than
female significant statistically (p = .00). Students who stayed alone, smoked cigarette more
than students who stayed with their parents (p = .03). Students who had higher expenditure
per month smoked more cigarettes than those who had less expenditure (p = .00). About the
effect of smoking, those who knew less smoked cigarettes more than those who knew better
(p = .01). For the smoking behaviors, we found that try smoking was the most common reason
(45.24%), following by stress/anxiety (33.33%). The average of cigarettes used was 2-5 pieces
per day (45.24%). Smoked everyday was 45.23%. Smoked 2-3 days per week was 19.04%. Most
of them brought no brand cigarettes (38.10%). Sources of cigarettes were mainly purchased
from convenient stores (61.90%). Cost of smoking was less than 100 Baht per month (35.71%).
Main occasions for smoking was during nightlife and drinking (35.90%). There were 88.33% and
76.19% admitted the risk of respiratory disease and bad affect on people around respectively.