Adolescents’ smoking behavior and its relationships with psychological constructs based on transtheoretical model: A cross-sectional survey

Background: Korean adolescents’ smoking is currently being considered as a crucial factor determining the health status of adolescents and an important public health and social issue. Objectives: The purpose of the study was to test the applicability of the Transtheoretical model to gain an understanding of smoking behavior change. Methods: A total of 706 adolescents who participated in the smoking cessation programs administered by the Korea Quit Smoking Association or Korean Association of Smoking & Health in 2003 were recruited. Four Korean-version questionnaires were used to identify the stages of smoking behavior and psychological attributes: Stage of Smoking Behavior Change Scale, Processes of Change Scale for Smoking, Decision Balance Scale for Smoking, and Self-efficacy Scale to avoid smoking. Results: Korean adolescents’ smoking behavior was differed according to gender. In addition, the findings revealed that behavioral and cognitive processes of change, self-efficacy, and positives differed across the stages of smoking behavior, and that psychological constructs of the transtheoretical model had a statistically significant impact on smoking behavior change. Conclusions: This research could spawn the development of theory-based and empirically supported smoking cessation intervention strategies and programs directed toward adolescents in the health care and nursing areas.