SMOKING BEHAVIOURS, SELF-APPRECIATIONS AND THE ROLE OF MILIEU IN PREDICTING CIGARETTE USE AMONG SAU STUDENTS

Abstract

Smoking is the most widely recognized method for expanding tobacco and tobacco is the most commonly known substance smoked. In Bangladesh, the number of tobacco smokers are increasing rapidly because of the availability of cheap tobacco products, lack of strong tobacco control regulations, and weak enforcement of existing regulations. University students constitute a high risk group for engaging in risky behaviors, such as smoking and illicit substance use. These students are at high risk of initiating and continuing smoking as they are likely to be exposed to peers who smoke. At the same time, they face social, emotional, and educational challenges when they enter the university settings. This thesis is based on the premise that a broader understanding of the behaviors and self- perceptions of university students with respect to tobacco use. It is also based on the premise that investigation into the role of social connectedness in predicting student smoking behaviors. Development of the Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University Tobacco Use Survey was guided by a comprehensive review of previous empirical and theoretical work in this area as well as by previously developed instruments. All analysis for this study were conducted using SPSS Version 26. The findings of our study reveal that tobacco smoking is initiated by students during the early adolescent years and continues throughout the university years. The demographic analysis of the study shows there only 17.55% nonsmoker exists the rest of them are smoker, of which 69.78% students were daily smokers, 9.97% students were occasional smokers and 2.7% students were experimental smokers. The study results also found that an estimated 9.91% made a negative change in their self-perceived smoking status, and 4.33% made a positive change in their self-perceived smoking status. The results urge policy makers to initiate anti-smoking programs to prevent the smoking habit and also necessary to create a help line for smokers to quit smoking. It is also recommended to conduct anti-smoking campaign among the parents and increase their awareness level.