Adolescent Support for Tobacco Control Policies and Associations with Tobacco Denormalization Beliefs and Harm Perceptions

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 16; no. 1; p. 147
• Main Authors: Chen, Jianjiu, Ho, Sai Yin, Leung, Lok Tung, Wang, Man Ping, Lam, Tai Hing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01-01-2019; MDPI
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescents; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Hong Kong; Humans; Male; Perception; Public Policy; Smokers - psychology; Smoking; Smoking Prevention; Studies; Taxation; Teenagers; Tobacco; Tobacco industry; Tobacco Industry - legislation & jurisprudence; Tobacco Products - legislation & jurisprudence; Tobacco Smoking - psychology; Hong Kong; Hong Kong China; United Kingdom > UK; United States > US; China; public opinion; tobacco denormalization; tobacco control; policy
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16010147

Public support is crucial for advancing tobacco control policies. We investigated adolescent support for such policies, and its association with potential factors of social denormalization (SD) beliefs of smoking, tobacco industry denormalization (TID) beliefs (negative perceptions of the industry), and harm perceptions of smoking. In a cross-sectional survey in Hong Kong, 13,964 secondary school students (mean age 15.0 years, 51.3% boys) reported their support (yes/no) for each of 14 tobacco control policies (e.g., further increase tobacco tax). Tobacco-related beliefs and perceptions, and smoking status were also measured. Support for the 14 tobacco control policies ranged from 17.6% to 54.1%. In current non-smokers, SD beliefs, TID beliefs, and harm perceptions were all associated with support for all tobacco control policies. In current smokers, the study factors were each associated with support for two to three policies. To conclude, support for tobacco control policies was weak to moderate in Hong Kong adolescents. SD beliefs, TID beliefs, and harm perceptions of smoking were associated with policy support in current non-smokers. In current smokers, the corresponding associations were less consistent or weaker.