Browsing by Subject "Smoking"
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Item A Comparative Study of Adult Mortality in Taiwan and the United States in the Twentieth Century(2013-05-03) Chang, Yu TingThis dissertation is a historically comparative study of adult mortality between Taiwan and the United States throughout the 20th century. The 20th century was characterized by the largest rise in life expectancy at birth and the most rapid decrease in mortality in recorded human history. This dissertation aims not only to examine and compare the trends and levels of life expectancy in Taiwan and the United States over an extended period of time, but also to evaluate the extent to which smoking behavior and obesity play an important role in the recent levels of adult mortality in the United States. I used logistic models of mortality to examine and compare the trends and levels of life expectancy in Taiwan from 1906 to 2008 and in the United States from 1933 to 2007. Second, I re-estimated life expectancy by introducing smoking-attributable mortality to further compare the levels of life expectancy between the two countries. Third, I estimated event history models to investigate whether and how smoking behavior and obesity are related to mortality in the United States in the 1990 to 2006 and the 2000 to 2006 periods. At the end of the 20th century, the level of life expectancy at birth for females in the U.S. was higher than in Taiwan, but they were close. In this century, however, the level of life expectancy at birth in Taiwan has increased to a higher level than in the U.S. The levels of male life expectancy at birth for the two countries are similar in this century, but there were significant differences in the 20th century. The great improvements in juvenile, background and senescent mortality rates in Taiwan may be used to explain this correspondence of life expectancy between the two countries today. Besides, higher smoking-attributed mortality can also serve as another possible reason for the stagnant levels of life expectancy in the U.S. Finally, smoking-related and obesity-related mortality have become progressively more important as predictors of adult mortality in the U.S. in past decades.Item Adolescent Perceptions of Delinquent Behavior Based on Individual Smoking Status: Friends and Peers(2012-07-16) Thomsen, CortneyAdolescent social influence is a contributing factor to higher rates of delinquent behaviors such as tobacco use, alcohol abuse, illicit drug use, and sexual activity. The objective of this study is to assess how the distinction between the perception of two social groups, peer and friend, influences behavior based on individual smoking status. Data from the 2006 Adolescent Health Risk Behaviors Survey is used for secondary analysis using questions that address individual perception of delinquent behavior based on peer ("people your age") and friends. An independent samples t-test is used to assess the combined friend and peer perception based on lifetime smoking status (non-smokers and smokers). Next, a paired samples t-test using the significant variable of smokers only is used to measure the difference in perception of the social groups, peer vs. friend. The data indicated that there is a perceived difference between social groups behavior based on smoking status with smokers perceiving their peers to be more delinquent than their friends. There is a need for further research to address true prevalence rates in adolescent social groups and education efforts to focus on the dynamic of social interactions that influence delinquent behaviors.Item Chronic pain and cigarette smoking: The elucidation of a synergistic relationship(2012-08) Trotter, David; Cohen, Lee M.; Richards, Steven; Young, Alice; Cukrowicz, Kelly C.; Evans, LanceChronic pain and smoking commonly co-occur, and their combination appears to have synergetic degenerative effects. While the literature investigating the association between chronic pain and smoking is relatively modest, the existent research reveals some important findings. Specifically, smoking is likely reinforced among individuals with chronic pain via the analgesic properties of nicotine, and that this effect is moderated by gender and cigarette consumption. However, little is known regarding the effects of chronic pain on factors believed to influence smoking relapse. The purpose of this study was to investigate the affect of chronic pain on nicotine withdrawal (NW) and readiness to quit (RTQ) smoking among two groups of regular smokers: those with and without chronic pain. Participants attended a baseline session (nicotine satiated) and a 24-hour nicotine deprivation session. It was hypothesized that: 1) nicotine deprivation would exacerbate pain severity, 2) NW severity would be more pronounced in the pain group, and moderated by gender, and 3) there would be a negative relationship between RTQ and the experience of chronic pain. Time invariant variables (i.e. demographics, RTQ) were collected at the baseline session, and time variant variables (i.e. NW severity, pain severity) were collected at both sessions. Data were analyzed via chi-square, ANOVA, and linear regression analyses where appropriate. Analyses revealed that, contrary to prediction, nicotine deprivation decreased pain experience in women, but did not affect pain in men. Further, no relationship was found between chronic pain, NW severity, or RTQ. The clinical and theoretical implications of these results are discussed.Item Effects of smoking cessation on sexual health in men(2011-08) Harte, Christopher Brookes; Meston, Cindy M.; Telch, Michael J.; Carlson, Caryn L.; Beevers, Christopher G.; Perry, Cheryl L.Cigarette smoking represents the most preventable cause of morbidity and mortality in the world today, and is responsible for enormous health-related economic burdens. Among other medical sequelae, erectile impairment has been shown to be associated with chronic tobacco use. The primary aim of the present study was to provide the first empirical investigation of the effects of smoking cessation on physiological and subjective indices of sexual health. Sixty-five long-term, heavy smoking men participated in a smoking cessation program and were assessed at baseline (while smoking regularly), at mid-treatment (while using a high dose nicotine transdermal patch), and at 4-week follow-up. Physiological and subjective sexual arousal indices, as well as self-reported sexual functioning (as measured by the International Index of Erectile Functioning (IIEF)) were assessed during each visit. Intent-to-treat analyses indicated that at followup successful quitters (n = 20), compared to those who relapsed (n = 45), showed significant improvements in physiological and subjective sexual arousal. Specifically, men demonstrated enhanced erectile responses, decreased latencies to reach maximum erectile capacity, and faster onset to reach maximum subjective sexual arousal. Although participants displayed across-session enhancements in self reported sexual function, successful quitters did not show a differential improvement compared to participants who relapsed. The results of the present investigation provide the first empirical evidence that smoking cessation significantly enhances both physiological and self-reported indices of sexual health in long-term male smokers, irrespective of baseline erectile impairment. It is hoped that these results may serve as a novel and enticing means to influence men to quit smoking. Increasing successful smoking cessation in men would significantly enhance quality of life, substantially reduce premature death, and alleviate enormous economic burdens caused by smoking-related diseases.Item Factors related to nurses smoking behavior(2005-05) Marchildon, Janice G.; Owen, Donna; Saunders, Jana; Andersen, SusanNurses, as the largest professional group in healthcare, have tremendous influence in the promotion of health, particularly as it relates to smoking. Smoking is considered to be the most important avoidable cause of chronic ill health in the world and several studies have found that many nurses smoke; which not only places their own health at risk, but also the publics (Piko, 2002; Hawkins, White & Morris, 1982; Booth & Faulkner, 1986). The purpose of this research was to describe nurses’ experiences with smoking as well as describe their smoking behavior in relation to demographics and socio-psychological influence. The relationship between smoking and the nurses’ perceived role in health promotion was also described in this research. The theoretical framework for this proposed study is Simmons (1990) Health Promotion Self Care System Model (HPSCSM). This model integrates the constructs of Pender’s Health Promotion Model, Orem’s Self-care Deficit Theory and Cox’s Interaction Model of Client Health Behavior. The study design was descriptive correlational. A convenience sample of 196 nurses employed in a variety of patient care settings within an urban medical center was used for this study. Data collection included a revised version of the Oncology Nurses and Tobacco Control Survey (Sarna, et al., 2000). Descriptive and inferential statistics that include Chi Square analysis was used to address four research questions. The description of nurses’ experiences with smoking in this sample showed that 68 (34.7%) reported that they had smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime and 39 (19.9%) reported current smoking. Among the demographic factors, the level of nursing education was positively correlated with current smoking behavior. Among the socio-psychological factors, stress was rated highest in importance by current smokers. More non-smokers and former smokers, compared to current smokers, felt positively about nurses serving as role models by not smoking.Item Factors related to nurses smoking behavior(Texas Tech University, 2005-05) Marchildon, Janice G.; Owen, Donna; Saunders, Jana; Andersen, SusanNurses, as the largest professional group in healthcare, have tremendous influence in the promotion of health, particularly as it relates to smoking. Smoking is considered to be the most important avoidable cause of chronic ill health in the world and several studies have found that many nurses smoke; which not only places their own health at risk, but also the publics (Piko, 2002; Hawkins, White & Morris, 1982; Booth & Faulkner, 1986). The purpose of this research was to describe nurses’ experiences with smoking as well as describe their smoking behavior in relation to demographics and socio-psychological influence. The relationship between smoking and the nurses’ perceived role in health promotion was also described in this research. The theoretical framework for this proposed study is Simmons (1990) Health Promotion Self Care System Model (HPSCSM). This model integrates the constructs of Pender’s Health Promotion Model, Orem’s Self-care Deficit Theory and Cox’s Interaction Model of Client Health Behavior. The study design was descriptive correlational. A convenience sample of 196 nurses employed in a variety of patient care settings within an urban medical center was used for this study. Data collection included a revised version of the Oncology Nurses and Tobacco Control Survey (Sarna, et al., 2000). Descriptive and inferential statistics that include Chi Square analysis was used to address four research questions. The description of nurses’ experiences with smoking in this sample showed that 68 (34.7%) reported that they had smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime and 39 (19.9%) reported current smoking. Among the demographic factors, the level of nursing education was positively correlated with current smoking behavior. Among the socio-psychological factors, stress was rated highest in importance by current smokers. More non-smokers and former smokers, compared to current smokers, felt positively about nurses serving as role models by not smoking.Item Mechanisms of smoking relapse: The potential influence of binge drinking and impulsivity on cue response in nicotine dependent college students(2012-08) Vanderveen, Joe; Cohen, Lee M.; Borrego, Joaquin P.; Schrimsher, Gregory; Young, AliceDespite the abundance of research on smoking and drinking behaviors, little attention has been given to the potential role of binge drinking on smoking cessation potential among college-aged smokers. In the present study, we used a 24-hour period of smoking abstinence to examine the relationships between impulsivity, response inhibition, craving for a cigarette, nicotine withdrawal, and responses to smoking-related and affective image cues among two subgroups of cigarette smokers: (1) those who frequently binge drink and (2) those who currently do not. Analyses indicated that smokers who binge drink have higher levels of trait-impulsivity and deficits in response inhibition when compared to their non binge-drinking peers. In addition, within the binge drinking group, levels of inhibitory control worsened following a period of nicotine deprivation. No significant differences were found, however, between groups on measures of craving, withdrawal, or startle magnitude. Findings are discussed in terms of their importance in clarifying the relationship between the different facets of impulsivity and its potential influence on smoking lapse and relapse.Item Smoking-cue modulation of the startle reflex and the relationship to stages of change(Texas Tech University, 2007-08) Dempsey, Jared PresleyThe current study investigated the appetitive nature of smoking-related drug cues among 22 nicotine dependent males, taking into consideration participants' Stage of Change. Affective modulation of the startle reflex was measured in order to gauge affective response to positive, negative, neutral, and smoking images. Results revealed that smoking images were physiologically pleasant, as indicated by startle reflex attenuation, for participants (N = 11) in the Precontemplation stage. However, those participants in the contemplation stage showed atypical affective modulation, with responses to positive images similar to neutral images. Additionally, those participants in the Contemplation stage (N = 11) rated smoking images similar to neutral images, while those in the Precontemplation stage rated these images similar to pleasant images. Overall results support the notion that smoking cues are physiologically appetitive in nature for nicotine dependent individuals, after accounting for Stage of Change.Item The helper-therapy principle in a smoking cessation program(Texas Tech University, 1982-08) Friedlander, Richard BNot availableItem The Influence of Weight Concerns and Weight Control Expectancies in the Smoking Behavior of Spanish Adolescents(2012-07-16) Berrios-Hernandez, MayraThe main goal of this study is to examine the relationship between weight control expectancies, weight concerns, smoking rate and perceived likelihood of smoking in the future among Spanish adolescents. Specifically, I intend to explore the potential moderator role of weight concerns on the relationship between weight control expectancies and smoking rate, as well as between weight concern and perceived likelihood of smoking in the future. Additionally, I want to investigate the possible meditational role of weight control expectancies on the relationship between weight concerns and smoking rate and likelihood of smoking in the future, respectively. The participants were 311 Spanish adolescents (M = 15.20; SD = 1.63; 174 female and 137 male) from schools in Alicante, Spain. The students completed questionnaires regarding smoking history and status. They also responded to questions regarding smoking expectancies and weigh concerns. Results suggested differences between smokers and nonsmokers in weight control expectancies and fear of fatness regardless of gender. The moderator model of weight concerns was not supported by findings. The results prove the meditational role of weight control expectancies on the relationship between fear of fatness and smoking rate, as well as between fear of fatness and perceived likelihood of smoking in the future. Implications, directions for future research and limitations of the study are discussed.