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Are Adolescents Smoking Identities Valid Descriptors Of Their Smoking Behaviour?, Chizimuzo T.C. Okoli, Chris G. Richardson, Pamela A. Ratner, Joy L. Johnson

Chizimuzo T.C. Okoli

Background: Studies have raised concerns regarding mismatches between researchers’ and adolescents’ characterizations of youth smoking behaviour; which may impede tobacco use prevention and cessation programs to reach their intended youth audience. Understanding how youth’s characterize their own smoking behaviour is an important factor for designing tailored interventions.

Objective: To address observations that youths’ smoking identities are valid descriptors of their smoking behaviour we examined the relationships between youths’ self-reported smoking identities, their perceived levels of addiction, and established taxonomies of smoking behaviour.

Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected on demographics, perceived extent of addiction to tobacco, smoking history, and self-reported smoking …

Are Adolescents Smoking Identities Valid Descriptors Of Their Smoking Behaviour? (2008), Chizimuzo T.C. Okoli, Chris G. Richardson, Pamela A. Ratner, Joy L. Johnson

Chizimuzo T.C. Okoli

Background

•Smoking identities represent psychosocial constructions of how adolescents who smoke perceive themselves in relation to their smoking behaviour

•These smoking identities converge (or diverge) with established taxonomies used to describe youth smoking behaviour

•The purpose of this study is to examine the validity of adolescents’ ‘smoking identities’ by comparing them to established smoking behaviour categorizations and perceived addiction to tobacco