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Eliciting the smoker's agenda: implications for policy and practice

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Listed:
  • McKie, L.
  • Laurier, E.
  • Taylor, R. J.
  • Lennox, A. S.

Abstract

Existing health promotion messages and advice on smoking cessation focus upon the negative aspects of continuing to smoke and contrast these to the benefits of giving up. Benefits of cessation are invariably linked to reduced risks of illness and disease with the process of cessation framed as a largely positive and certainly a health enhancing one. In this paper we present an analysis of data from a cross-sectional, exploratory study in the city of Aberdeen, Scotland, undertaken with 54 people, aged 18-44, who are or have been smokers. The multiple and often contradictory agendas of everyday life, smoking and health are explored. Participants spoke of the dangers of smoking and the potential benefits of giving up as these are considered by health promotion and medical research. However, many smokers experienced a number of benefits from smoking (such as socialising with others and breaks from boredom), and health and social problems with the process of cessation (for example, weight gain, stress, colds, flu). Participants appeared to query the validity of the risks of continuing to smoke and yet indicate a range of health and social difficulties in giving up. The authors assert that an acknowledgement of the attractive, pleasurable aspects of smoking may be seen as unacceptable and irresponsible but this could well provide an opportunity to relate to the everyday and multiple practices of smoking and smokers themselves as illuminated by this research.

Suggested Citation

  • McKie, L. & Laurier, E. & Taylor, R. J. & Lennox, A. S., 2003. "Eliciting the smoker's agenda: implications for policy and practice," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 56(1), pages 83-94, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:56:y:2003:i:1:p:83-94
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Heikkinen, Hanne & Patja, Kristiina & Jallinoja, Piia, 2010. "Smokers' accounts on the health risks of smoking: Why is smoking not dangerous for me?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 71(5), pages 877-883, September.
    2. Robinson, Jude & Kirkcaldy, Andrew J., 2007. "'You think that I'm smoking and they're not': Why mothers still smoke in the home," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 65(4), pages 641-652, August.
    3. Blackburn, Clare & Bonas, Sheila & Spencer, Nick & Dolan, Alan & Coe, Christine & Moy, Robert, 2005. "Smoking behaviour change among fathers of new infants," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 61(3), pages 517-526, August.
    4. Barnett, Ross & Pearce, Jamie & Moon, Graham, 2005. "Does social inequality matter? Changing ethnic socio-economic disparities and Maori smoking in New Zealand, 1981-1996," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 60(7), pages 1515-1526, April.
    5. Peretti-Watel, Patrick & L’haridon, Olivier & Seror, Valerie, 2012. "Responses to increasing cigarette prices in France: How did persistent smokers react?," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 106(2), pages 169-176.
    6. Pajari, Pia M. & Jallinoja, Piia & Absetz, Pilvikki, 2006. "Negotiation over self-control and activity: An analysis of balancing in the repertoires of Finnish healthy lifestyles," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 62(10), pages 2601-2611, May.
    7. Robinson, Jude & Ritchie, Deborah & Amos, Amanda & Cunningham-Burley, Sarah & Greaves, Lorraine & Martin, Claudia, 2010. "'Waiting until they got home': Gender, smoking and tobacco exposure in households in Scotland," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 71(5), pages 884-890, September.
    8. Patrick Peretti-Watel & Jean Constance, 2009. "“It’s All We Got Left”. Why Poor Smokers are Less Sensitive to Cigarette Price Increases," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 6(2), pages 1-14, February.
    9. Barnett, Ross & Pearce, Jamie & Moon, Graham, 2009. "Community inequality and smoking cessation in New Zealand, 1981-2006," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(5), pages 876-884, March.
    10. Thirlway, Frances, 2016. "Everyday tactics in local moral worlds: E-cigarette practices in a working-class area of the UK," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 170(C), pages 106-113.
    11. Twigg, Liz & Moon, Graham & Szatkowski, Lisa & Iggulden, Paul, 2009. "Smoking cessation in England: Intentionality, anticipated ease of quitting and advice provision," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(4), pages 610-619, February.

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