Boy Smokers’ Rationalisations for Engaging in Potentially Fatal Behaviour: In-Depth Interviews in The Netherlands
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Brief Contextual Background
2.2. Sample
2.3. Design and Procedure
2.4. Analysis
3. Results
3.1. Participants’ Characteristics
3.2. Recurring Rationalisations
‘Normally (before I started smoking) I could play a full match (soccer), but now only three quarters of a match. Or half a match, if I’ve really smoked a lot.’(#8)
‘Well, if I smoke just before I have to cycle, then I notice it, I have to cycle slower because otherwise I sit on my bike with a hoarse gasp … you know … that is not nice. So mostly I do not smoke before cycling. Hahaha (laugh).’(#9)
‘I do not notice it too much. Yes, maybe during sports. But I do not do sport at a high level, so these are not consequences that make me think …’(#12)
‘I am a dancer and the smoking influences my condition and the power in my movements. It all has become more difficult, but I don’t really notice it.’(#16)
‘You can just keep up your teeth (with proper dental care) when smoking, I am the living proof.’(#5)
‘(The impact of smoking on) my condition and taste and so on, that is really … but on the other side it (smoking) is a very sociable thing to do, it tastes good and I really like to do it.’(#1)
‘I play sports a lot and you just notice that after going out in the weekend and drinking and smoking a lot, that your endurance is bad (…) This is a big reason for me, and the money, to stop smoking.’(#11)
‘I just don’t think my chances of getting it (lung cancer) really increase (in comparison to non-smokers) with the amount that I smoke.’(#6)
‘I think my smoking is fine … just not smoke too much.’(#10)
‘I have just been smoking for four years while there are also people that have been smoking for their entire life. These individuals will get lung cancer, and I think that if I stop now I will not experience consequences anymore (…) on the internet you also see that your health slowly gets better, and that it is good again in 20 years or so’(#1)
‘Yes, (severe consequences) particularly (occur) if you keep on smoking, I think that if you quit, it (my health) will slowly get better (…) my grandma, her lungs were totally black, but they got clean again.’(#11)
‘You will always experience some effects (health consequences from smoking), but I think that you can minimize the impact of these effects so that you do not really notice it. I will probably have a lower lung capacity or higher blood pressure, but I think this will become better if you start living healthy.’(#12)
‘By then (when planning to get children) it will not have any value anymore. Now, I am still young and can just behave the way I want.’(#7)
‘I know it is bad for you. But it is just … it is sociable and I mean … why not just enjoy something when you are young?’(#9)
‘Yes (my children will be allowed to smoke), because it would be hypocritical to forbid them (…) they can experiment with it, but then I will tell them that I had fun smoking for a couple of years and then quit. So (I will tell them) they should try that.’(#15)
‘You know … now everything is still exciting, I am not 18 years of age and everybody around me smokes at parties (…) so it is just part of it (life at this moment). At a certain point in time you stop going to parties every weekend and your life becomes more serious. I am sure that I will not keep on smoking.’(#5)
‘I think (I will quit smoking) after my studies. When I start a responsible life.’(#13)
‘Then I will leave secondary school. All my friends will also be gone. Then I won’t see anyone smoking and get new friends (…) that is a new beginning, just (make sure that I do) not start (smoking) again.’(#15)
‘I do not see myself smoking as an adult. If you smoke as an adult I think that is immature. If I am adult, I will act like an adult (…) If my parents would smoke it would not make any sense … they’re a role model to someone.’(#5)
‘I am not really worried (about the health risks), but I would like to know the current situation (of the damage done by his current level of smoking), so that I know how it (the damage) will progress or just remain the same (as now) if I continue smoking the way I am doing now.’(#5)
‘I know that I will eventually decrease the amount of smoking. I also have periods where I do not smoke for three months, so I know that I can.’(#3)
‘I managed not to buy cigarettes for about a year, just for the idea that I would not get addicted if I wouldn’t have them nearby.’(#8)
Interviewee: ‘Yes, I am a little afraid (that I will be too addicted to quit) (…) but the largest part is mental, and if you think ‘I don’t want this anymore’… I also quit cold-turkey one time before and stopped smoking for three months, until my exams started.’
Interviewer: ‘So if you really want to, you will succeed?’
Interviewee: ‘Yes, I will.’(#11)
‘I have often quit for half a year and this gives me the feeling of knowing that I can stop at any moment.’(#13)
‘In holidays you smoke a pack a day and then you think ‘shit … what am I doing?’ (…) I need to start smoking less for a while.’(#7)
‘I think I am an average smoker, but when I go out I sometimes smoke an entire pack. Certainly, in combination with alcohol, then it is three times as nice so then you smoke even more.’(#9)
‘In the weekends I sometimes buy a pack before going out for a drink because I will share it and smoke not all of it myself.’(#11)
‘When I am at school with friends and they say ‘we’re going for a smoke’ and I do not feel like it, I say ‘let’s just wait for a bit’. This waiting can easily last an hour, leaving no time for smoking because of a new school hour that is starting. This is how I secretly try to manipulate.’(#15)
4. Discussion
5. Limitations
5.1. Comparison with Adults
5.2. Reflections
5.3. Key Areas for Future Research
6. Conclusions
Acknowledgments
Author Contributions
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Code | Educational Level | Self-Classification | Cigarettes per Week | Knowledge Correct |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Higher | A | 70 | 3/3 |
2 | Middle | L | 14 | 3/3 |
3 | Middle | A | 28 | 3/3 |
4 | Higher | L–A | 49 | 2/3 |
5 | Middle | L | 7 | 2/3 |
6 | Middle | A | 19 | 3/3 |
7 | Higher | L–A | 38 | 3/3 |
8 | Middle | A | 27 | 2/3 |
9 | Lower | A | 38 | 3/3 |
10 | Lower | A | 29 | 2/3 |
11 | Lower | H | 35 | 3/3 |
12 | Higher | A | 95 | 3/3 |
13 | Higher | A | 29 | 3/3 |
14 | Middle | A–H | 95 | 3/3 |
15 | Lower | L | 19 | 3/3 |
16 | Lower | L–A | 57 | 3/3 |
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Schreuders, M.; Krooneman, N.T.; Van den Putte, B.; Kunst, A.E. Boy Smokers’ Rationalisations for Engaging in Potentially Fatal Behaviour: In-Depth Interviews in The Netherlands. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15, 767. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15040767
Schreuders M, Krooneman NT, Van den Putte B, Kunst AE. Boy Smokers’ Rationalisations for Engaging in Potentially Fatal Behaviour: In-Depth Interviews in The Netherlands. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2018; 15(4):767. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15040767
Chicago/Turabian StyleSchreuders, Michael, Nikha T. Krooneman, Bas Van den Putte, and Anton E. Kunst. 2018. "Boy Smokers’ Rationalisations for Engaging in Potentially Fatal Behaviour: In-Depth Interviews in The Netherlands" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 15, no. 4: 767. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15040767