Influences on the Decision Not to Continue Smoking Beyond the Smoking Initiation Process: Implications for Opportunistic Health Promotion

Abstract

A holistic nursing approach provides an important opportunity to study the smoking initiation process. The smoking initiation process involves initial tobacco use episodes. Smoking during these initial episodes is important to who becomes a regular tobacco user and who does not. The study attempted to identify themes and patterns among the lived experiences of 8 nonsmoking individuals. A limitation of the study was time. So in order to obtain the most comprehensive amount of information a semi-structured interview was used to explore the smoking initiation process. The motivational forces behind an adolescent and the initial attempt to smoke may influence continuous smoking as an adult. Studying the smoking initiation process from beginning to end is important to understanding the motivational factors related to not continuing to smoke beyond the initiation process. The study found nonsmokers gave an account of motivational factors relating to nonconformity that included "just didn't want to," "I just didn't get into situations where umm, peer pressure would force me to smoke again," and "Father always says there is not place for cigarettes if your going to be an athlete and I played basketball and football." Motivational factors related to nonconformity my be important individual influences not to continue smoking into adulthood. Recommendations for further research include studying peer pressure, motivation, and nonconformity linked to positive behaviors found in nonsmokers.