This study investigates how three sociocultural factors--gender ideology, authoritarian beliefs, and social trust--are associated with tobacco use cessation among young adults in China and South Korea. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of young adults (ages 18-25) in China and South Korea. Among the 418 ever-users of any tobacco product, retrospective reports of tobacco use were recorded for the initial age of use, the age of last use, and the current use status. Using Cox proportional hazards models, we examined how sociocultural factors are associated with cessation hazards. Kaplan-Meier curves and interactions were used to contrast national differences. A total of 85 ever-users (20%) had quit tobacco use. Koreans were 3.6 times (p < 0.01) more likely to have quit compared to the Chinese. There are significant national differences: gender traditionalism was positively related to cessation odds among Koreans but negatively related among Chinese (HR = 2.08, p < 0.01), while authoritarian beliefs were related to lower cessation among Koreans compared to Chinese (HR = 0.46, p < 0.05). Due to the disparate sociocultural effects, tobacco control in East Asia should consider the contextual sensitivity when tailoring cessation programs.
The transition to university is a high-risk period for smoking initiation, yet the role of subclinical personality disorder (PD) features in this behavior is understudied, particularly in non-Western contexts. This study aimed to examine the association between ten PD features and smoking among Chinese university freshmen. The data analyzed was from a cross-sectional study of 1,453 first-year students at a university in Wuhan, China. Smoking behavior (lifetime and current) was self-reported via a standardized questionnaire, and PD features were measured by using the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire-4+. The prevalence of lifetime and current smoking was 29.2% and 5.0%, respectively. After adjusting for sociodemographic covariates, high levels of features of antisocial, borderline, narcissistic, and histrionic PDs were significantly associated with both lifetime and current smoking. The strongest associations for current smoking were with antisocial (Adjusted OR = 3.66), and borderline (Adjusted OR = 2.53) features. Additionally, paranoid PD features were uniquely associated with current smoking (Adjusted OR = 1.67). Subclinical PD features, particularly those within Cluster B, are significant correlates of smoking in Chinese university freshmen, independent of sociodemographic factors. These findings underscore the importance of considering personality pathology in developing targeted tobacco prevention and intervention programs for university students.
E-cigarette use continues to rise among young smokers in China, driven partly by the perception that e-cigarettes are less harmful than combustible cigarettes. Several reviews indicate e-cigarettes expose users to fewer toxicants, yet this 'relative harm' message is often simplified or misinterpreted as implying harmlessness. We explore how young smokers perceive the relative harms of e-cigarettes and cigarettes, and how these perceptions shape smoking behaviors. We conducted semistructured interviews with 25 daily e-cigarette users aged 18-25 (15 dual users; 10 exclusive users). Thematic analysis identified two themes: exclusive users' view of e-cigarettes as a reduced-harm alternative, and dual users' ambivalence about harm reduction and nicotine dependence. Across both groups, participants described forming harm perceptions largely through sensory experience, peer discussion, and exposure to commercial or social media messaging, rather than formal health information. While most exclusive users viewed e-cigarettes as a safer alternative, dual users often expressed uncertainty about relative harms and reported heightened nicotine dependence through concurrent use. These findings suggest that such perception patterns may reinforce misconceptions and contribute to risky use behaviors among young smokers. Targeted communication strategies are needed to clarify harm and prevent overgeneralizing harm-reduction messages among young smokers.
Smoking remains a significant public health issue globally, contributing to a wide range of preventable diseases and premature mortality. This study aims to assess the prevalence of smoking and its associated factors in Zakho, Kurdistan, Iraq. A cross-sectional study was conducted in January 2024, involving 537 adults aged 18 and older. Participants were randomly selected using a multistage sampling process, and data was collected using a structured questionnaire including clinical, behavioral, and sociodemographic information. Logistic regression was performed in IBM SPSS to identify factors associated with smoking. The mean age of participants was 35.73 +/- 13.95 standard deviation. The prevalence of smoking in Zakho was found to be 180 (33.5%), with significantly higher rates among men, 165 (47.8%) compared to women, 15 (7.8%). Factors such as gender, education, employment status, physical activity, and hypertension were significantly associated with smoking. The smoking prevalence in Zakho surpasses both the national and global averages. It is more common among men, the uneducated, and the employed. Targeted tobacco control measures such as public smoking bans, higher taxes, and education are needed. Healthcare professionals should promote cessation strategies to reduce the burden of smoking. Further longitudinal studies must explore longterm health effects.
