Establishing the factors that drive teenagers to engage in risky behaviors, such as smoking, is crucial in bolstering public health. People who start smoking early in life are unlikely to quit the habit later, increasing the likelihood of experiencing adverse side effects (Robalino & Macy, 2018). In the United States, cigarette smoking accounts for about 480,000 deaths every year, making it crucial for society and the government to develop approaches to address the menace (Robalino & Macy, 2018).
A significant percentage of the existing literature on adolescent smoking indicates that many believe the activity improves their status within their group. Quantitative research will be done in this case to empirically examine the effect of social rank on the uptake of cigarette smoking among teenagers (Robalino & Macy, 2018). The quantitative methodology will allow for the collection of data on smokers and habit development. Collecting firsthand information is crucial in developing an in-depth understanding of the menace since it will influence a solution’s development.
The methodology used to address the smoking menace among teenagers is a structured questionnaire that will collect data on smoking habits and influence. The research exercise targeted 100 respondents who were given a questionnaire in the form of a checklist. The purpose of the administered questions was to analyze how smoking has affected their social life and whether peer pressure has contributed to lifestyle uptake (Joo et al., 2020).
The test subjects’ age bracket was 13-18 years, with the male participants being 60 and the females 40. The average mean was used to establish the similarity in responses given by the test subjects. The study results indicate that teenagers understand the health and social implications of smoking, but peer pressure contributes to the activity’s uptake (Joo et al., 2020). Therefore, preventive measures should limit peer influence and ensure that the adolescents’ self-esteem is bolstered. For instance, experimental interventions like counseling can ensure the smokers understand the impact of the behavior and work towards cessation.
References
Joo, H., Cho, M. H., Cho, Y., Joh, H. K., & Kim, J. W. (2020). Predictors of long-term smoking cessation among smokers enrolled in a university smoking cessation program: A longitudinal study. Medicine, 99(5). Web.
Robalino, J. D., & Macy, M. (2018). Peer effects on adolescent smoking: Are popular teens more influential?PloS One, 13(7), e0189360. Web.