‘Smoking makes me happy and I’d rather die early being happy.’ A qualitative study exploring the smoking behaviours of young females

Trew, Alice (2014) ‘Smoking makes me happy and I’d rather die early being happy.’ A qualitative study exploring the smoking behaviours of young females. Manchester Metropolitan University. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

The research focused on the smoking behaviour of young females who identify as ‘smokers’ and were in the ‘pre-contemplation’ stage of change (Prochaska & DiClemente, 1983), thus not currently looking to quit smoking. The research aimed to understand the reasons for smoking as a background for proposing interventions for this group of smokers. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were undertaken with six volunteers, discussing their smoking behaviour. The interviews were analysed using thematic analysis, extracting six key themes; starting smoking: social influence, smoking within a social context, smoking and identity, benefits outweigh long-term health issues, cognitive dissonance and stopping smoking: a problem for the ‘future’. The findings suggest interventions should focus on smoker’s perceptions of benefits and their susceptibility to experience health problems, as a result of their smoking behaviour. Moreover, alternatives for perceived benefits should be sought to fulfil the role smoking currently plays in these smoker’s lives.