Examining Antecedents of Clean Indoor Air Policy Support: Implications for Campaigns Promoting Clean Indoor Air

Abstract

This investigation sought to examine the association between knowledge of the risks associated with environmental tobacco smoke and voter support for clean indoor air policies. In doing so, 2 antecedents were employed to enhance understanding of this relationship: attitudes and subjective norms. In addition, differences between nonsmokers and smokers were assessed across the aforementioned variables. The study sampled participants (N = 550) living in the Appalachian foothills as a means of conducting formative research prior to developing messages promoting clean indoor air policies. The study controlled for tobacco usage, age, biological sex, and income. Results revealed that awareness of risk is a good predictor of attitudes and social norms, and in return, attitudes and social norms are good predictors of support for clean indoor air policies. In addition, results reveal that nonsmokers maintain a significantly stronger belief in the dangers associated with environmental tobacco smoke, as well as more favorable attitudes, subjective norms, and support for clean indoor air policies when compared with smokers. These findings are discussed with a focus on message design strategies for practitioners and academics with interests in promoting clean indoor air policies.

The Association Between Implicit and Explicit Attitudes Toward Smoking and Support for Tobacco Control Measures

“…Our fi ndings concerning the relation between demographic factors and smoking behavior and support for tobacco control policies are consistent with prior research ( Ashley et al, 1995 ;Bernat et al, 2009 ;Blake et al, 2010 ;Clegg Smith et al, 2008 ;Doucet et al, 2007 ;Hamilton et al, 2005 ;Osypuk & AcevedoGarcia, 2010 ;Poland et al, 2000 ;Quick et al, 2009 ;Schumann et al, 2006 ). Females, those with higher educational attainment, parents, and nonsmokers expressed more support for tobacco control policy measures.…”

The role of tobacco-specific media exposure, knowledge, and smoking status on selected attitudes toward tobacco control

“…While some research has linked health information exposure to accurate knowledge of cancer risks and cancer screening behaviors (Shim, Kelly, & Hornik, 2006;Stryker, Moriarty, & Jensen, 2008;Viswanath et al, 2006) and other research suggests that accurate knowledge has been a central component of effective health promotion in several areas (Evans et al, 2006;Finney Rutten, Meissner, Breen, Vernon, & Rimer, 2005;Glantz & Jamieson, 2000;Weinstein, Slovic, Waters, & Gibson, 2004), there has been little evidence thus far to show an association between knowledge, media exposure, and attitudes toward tobacco control, with a few exceptions (Clegg Smith et al, 2008;Quick et al, 2009). The current study has addressed this gap using data from a nationally representative sample of adults.…”

“…First, it examines the unique contribution of both knowledge of the negative effects of tobacco and tobacco-specific media exposure (exposure to antitobacco messages, news coverage of tobacco issues, and protobacco advertising) as predictors of U.S. adults' attitudes toward tobacco control measures that suggest limits on tobacco company sales and on exposure to secondhand smoke. Although one content analysis published in 2008 found a limited association between state print news coverage of tobacco and positive public sentiment toward smoking bans (Clegg Smith et al, 2008) and another study showed an association between knowledge of the risks of secondhand smoke and support for a clean indoor-air policy (Quick, Bates, & Romina, 2009), little previous research has assessed the independent contribution of both knowledge and media exposure on general attitudes toward tobacco control. Because knowledge and media exposure are modifiable factors, understanding their role in shaping adult attitudes toward tobacco control is essential, as they may be considered intervention points for education and outreach.…”

Public Support Toward Tobacco Control: Consumer Responsiveness and Policy Planning

“…9 Beyond the legislative design and enforcement of tobacco control regulations, the cornerstone for warranting their successful implementation and effectiveness is public support. 10 Most recent research differentiates antismoking attitudes with respect to smoking status/nicotine dependence [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] or the individuals' age, showing that the youngsters' responses to the antismoking policies are substantially important for understanding the behavioral aspects and the perceived community norms. [19][20][21] How individual differences affect responsiveness to antismoking regulation and which factors affect this process are the pivotal questions of the present study, which has been conducted in Greece.…”