Mindfulness, Smoking Intention, and Nicotine Dependence Among Buddhist Ethnic Minority Adolescents in China

Abstract

This study investigates smoking intention, nicotine dependence, and mindfulness among Dai Lue adolescents (N = 1322, ages = 14–18), an understudied Buddhist ethnic minority in China. Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), mindfulness showed a negative association with smoking intention. However, for participants with nicotine dependence, the mindfulness-intention association diminished, while volitional processes remained salient. Results from this study contribute to debates in the literature regarding habit versus planned behavior, and provide empirical support for integrating mindfulness into the TPB. The cognitive pathways identified could be targeted in anti-smoking interventions to curb the high prevalence of smoking among Dai Lue adolescents.

Keywords:

• Chinese Dai
• mindfulness
• smoking
• adolescent
• Theory of Planned Behavior

Acknowledgments

We thank Qilian Li at the Jinghong Municipal Education Bureau for liaising with local schools.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 ‘Dai’ (傣) is the official designation in China. Dai consist of several subgroups with cultural, geographical, and linguistic differences. Dai Lue is one of the numerically largest subgroups, mainly dwelling in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture.

2 As per the ethnicity category in their household registration, hukou.