It won't happen to me': the knowledge-attitude nexus in adolescent smoking

Introduction:
This text presents a study on the association between perceived susceptibility and smoking among adolescents in a developing country. The study aims to contribute to the literature on this topic in the context of pro-smoking norms and differential access of youth to information. The reader will learn about the study design, key findings, and the main message regarding the importance of perceived susceptibility in tobacco control efforts.

Key Points:

* The study was conducted in three underprivileged suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, and involved 1294 adolescents aged 13-20.
* Knowledge and perceived susceptibility were measured using statements related to the consequences of tobacco use.
* adolescents with less knowledge of smoking and those who did not perceive themselves susceptible to smoking hazards had higher odds of ever smoking.
* The study suggests that awareness campaigns should focus on raising the perceived susceptibility of adolescents by including items within their frame of mind and addressing social desirability concerns.
* Perceived susceptibility remains an important concept even in countries with pro-smoking norms.
* Seventy-nine percent of youth in Lebanon are exposed to smoking in their homes.
* health professional students in Lebanon also have high smoking rates, which could influence young people's perceptions of susceptibility.
* The study highlights the importance of considering perceived susceptibility in tobacco control policies and intervention programs.

Main Message:
The main message of this text is the significance of perceived susceptibility in understanding and addressing smoking behaviors among adolescents in developing countries. Despite pro-smoking norms and limited access to information, the study demonstrates that young people do feel susceptible to smoking risks, and this perception influences their behavior. To effectively combat tobacco use, policymakers and public health professionals should prioritize strategies that raise adolescents' perceived susceptibility to smoking hazards, focusing on short-term consequences and social desirability concerns.

Yeretzian, J. S., and R. a. afifi. “‘It Won’t happen to Me’: The Knowledge-attitude Nexus in adolescent Smoking.” Journal of Public health 31, no. 3 (September 1, 2009): 354–59. https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdp031.