Investigating Social Proliferation in Korean College Students’ Smoking Perceptions and Behaviors

Abstract

The present study investigated the processes of social proliferation in Korean college students’ smoking perceptions and behaviors. Using cross-sectional survey data (N = 208), the study tested associations between smoking status of friends, frequency and contents of communication about smoking and Korean college students’ smoking perceptions and behaviors. The results showed that college students with smoking friends were significantly higher on pro-smoking cultural norms, pro-smoking subjective norms, and positive attitude toward smoking than students with nonsmoking friends. Effects of frequency, negative evaluation of communication about smoking, and contents of communication about smoking differed between smoking friends and nonsmoking friends.

Keywords:

• Communication about smoking
• peer influence
• smoking prevention
• social proliferation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

YoungJu Shin

YoungJu Shin (PhD, Pennsylvania State University) is an Endowed Associate Professor of the Department of Organizational Sciences and Communication at George Washington University. Her research extends the scope of health communication and prevention intervention with the focus of culture.

Yu Lu

Yu Lu (PhD, Pennsylvania State University) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health and Exercise Science at the University of Oklahoma. Her primary research interests are in health disparities focusing on substance use and interpersonal violence.

Rebecca Leach

Rebecca Leach (PhD, Arizona State University) is an assistant professor of organizational and health communication at the University of Arkansas. Her research centers on factors that promote workplace wellbeing, including compassion, voice, resilience, and justice.