Smoking-Related Stigma: A Public Health Tool or a Damaging Force?

Lozano, Paula; Thrasher, James F.; Forthofer, Melinda; Hardin, James W.; Reynales-Shigematsu, Luz Myriam; Santillán, Edna Arillo; Fleischer, Nancy L.

doi:10.1093/ntr/nty151

Cited by 24 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 95 publications

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“…The fact that stigmatization countervails the health promotive initiative is especially a concern. For example, the feeling of stigma decreases the likelihood of successfully quitting smoking [ 58 ], which is explained by self-esteem and self-efficacy loss, due to internalizing a smoker’s (hence, stigmatized) identity [ 45 ]. Moreover, smoking stigma can possibly isolate smokers, withdrawing them from non-smokers and, consequently, they only socialize with smokers, which could have the effect of reinforcing smoking practices [ 59 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Places to Smoke: Exploring Smoking-Related Practices among Danish Adolescents

Glenstrup

Bast

Danielsen

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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Several established school smoking prevention initiatives involve restrictions on places to smoke. The focus on tobacco control in schools is due to the risk of smoking initiation during adolescence and the perception of this life stage as a period of time when health behavior is established. Hence, this period of time is considered to be ideal for health-promoting initiatives. This paper is part of an ethnographic study on adolescents’ perceptions of tobacco use. Focus groups and field observations were used to explore adolescents’ smoking-related practices related to smoking bans at schools. The findings show that smoking, as a place-based practice, is influenced by locally embedded rules and carries social implications resulting in a distinction between smokers and non-smokers. The distinction between smokers and non-smokers contributes to the retention of a stereotypical view of smokers and, moreover, stigmatizes smokers. According to this, restrictions on places to smoke within the school should be considered carefully in order to avoid stigma or ethical issues.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Places to Smoke: Exploring Smoking-Related Practices among Danish Adolescents

Glenstrup

Bast

Danielsen

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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“…Our findings showed effects on multiple quitting-related attitudes and behaviours including setting a firm date to quit, engaging in smoking limiting behaviours, and discussing quitting with family or friends, and making a quit attempt, increasing the confidence that our findings are not spurious. We are aware of one recent cohort study that examined stigma in relation with sustained quitting, showing that smokers in Mexico who believed that smokers are increasingly marginalised were less likely to quit successfully, while there was no association among smokers in Uruguay [41]. Further long-term follow-up studies are therefore needed to examine links between social norms and stigma and subsequent sustained quitting.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anti-smoking social norms are associated with increased cessation behaviours among lower and higher socioeconomic status smokers: A population-based cohort study

et al. 2018

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BackgroundSocial denormalisation of smoking can provide an environment that helps smokers to quit. This study examined which of three measures of anti-smoking social norms have the greatest influence on quitting-related cognitions and behaviours, and if this influence differs according to socioeconomic status (SES).MethodsThe Victorian Tracking Survey measured social norms among 1,348 (n(weighted) = 1,373) Australian adult smokers (aged 18–59) between 2012 and 2014, who were followed-up one week later. Weighted logistic regression analyses examined prospective associations of baseline subjective (family and friends’ disapproval of smoking), injunctive (feeling embarrassed about being a smoker) and descriptive norms (living with someone who tried to quit in the past 12 months), with quitting-related cognitions and behaviours at follow-up. Data were weighted to account for telephony status (landline or mobile phone), sex and age. Analyses were adjusted for demographic characteristics, addiction level, tobacco control policies and quitting-related outcomes measured at baseline. Differences in associations between lower and higher SES smokers (based on educational attainment and area-based disadvantage) were examined through interaction terms and stratified analyses.ResultsSixty-four percent of participants (n(weighted) = 872) perceived disapproval from family and friends, 31% (n(weighted) = 419) felt embarrassed to be a smoker, and 11% (n(weighted) = 155) lived with a recent quitter. All three norms were associated with having set a firm date to quit in the next month and with engaging in smoking limiting behaviours. Embarrassment was also associated with an increased likelihood of talking about quitting and with making a quit attempt. Associations were mostly comparable for lower and higher SES smokers, with no significant negative rebound effects overall or among subgroups.ConclusionsThese findings indicate close others’ disapproval and feelings of embarrassment most strongly motivate smokers to try to quit. If tobacco control policies or media campaigns further denormalise smoking, there should be no reason for concern that such denormalisation undermines cessation behaviours.

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“…15 These findings thus reinforce on conducting PFTs early, even in asymptomatic smokers. 16 In addition, lower pulmonary function test results may serve as evidence to help convince and increase awareness in the smokers to contemplate quitting the habit. And thus prevent long term morbidity and mortality due to smoking related illnesses and lead to an overall improvement in community health 17 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of smoking on visual evoked potential (VEP) and visual reaction time (VRT)

et al. 2020

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Background: Nicotine in tobacco smoke causes demyelination. Again, hypoxia in long-term smokers is linked to neuropathy. Visual receptors are early sufferer of neuropathy. Visual-Acuity & other ocular tests often fail to detect subtle changes of neuropathy which, however, can be detected by VEP test. Literature review shows that changes in VEP come earlier than PFT changes in smokers. Ironically, smokers claim that smoking improves their reaction time, which can be assessed by VRT. Aims and Objective: To relate smoking status with VEP and VRT. Materials and Methods: Fifty-six subjects (smoker group = 28 & non-smoker group = 28), whose age & sex were matched, were included in the study. Their PFT, pattern VEP of both eyes & VRT were recorded. The data were compared between the two groups using unpaired t-test, considering statistical significance at p<0.05. Results: The FVC (4.35±0.83 vs. 5.32+1.18 l, p=0.022), FEF 25% (7.40+2.38 vs. 8.74+3.90 l/s, p=0.019) & FEF 50% (6.11+1.52 vs. 7.74+2.57, p= 0.010) were significantly lower in smokers compared to nonsmokers. There was no significant difference in P100 wave latency of VEP. But, VRT of smokers were significantly shorter (431.69+60.29 vs. 441.14+123.54 ms, p=0.010). Conclusion: Smokers have shorter visual reaction time and similar visual evoked potential as compared to non-smokers.

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Smoking-Related Stigma: A Public Health Tool or a Damaging Force?

Cited by 24 publications

References 95 publications

Places to Smoke: Exploring Smoking-Related Practices among Danish Adolescents

Places to Smoke: Exploring Smoking-Related Practices among Danish Adolescents

Anti-smoking social norms are associated with increased cessation behaviours among lower and higher socioeconomic status smokers: A population-based cohort study

Effect of smoking on visual evoked potential (VEP) and visual reaction time (VRT)

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