Factors affecting cigarette smoking behavior of vocational students in Bangkok

Abstract

This study aims to determine factors affecting smoking behavior of vocational students in Bangkok. Eight hundred and one male vocational students, aged 17-23 years, were included in the study. They answered the questionnaire which asked about nicotine dependence, family factors, educational, environment and social factors, smoking attitude factors. The results showed that those who were classified as smoking group had low nicotine dependence. The number of smokers in family was not significant different between the smoker group and the non-smoker group. Both groups had similar number of closed friends who were smokers. If family members or their friends invited the vocational student smokers to smoke, they tended to smoke. In additionally, when they saw a person who was smoking, they might smoke. Although the smokers realized the danger of smoking, they still smoke. Smoking attitude factors were not different between the groups. We conclude that family, friends, and society around vocational students were the main factors which could effect to smoking behavior.

Keywords:          Smoking,   Behavior,   Vocational student