Socializing with Smoker and Social Smoking Behavior among Chinese Male Smokers with Low Nicotine Dependence: The Mediating Roles of Belief of Smoking Rationalization and Smoker Identity

Yuhan Zhang, Jiayu Wang, Keying Lai, Hankun Bian, Haide Chen () and Lingfeng Gao ()
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Yuhan Zhang: College of Education and Human Development, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
Jiayu Wang: College of Education and Human Development, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
Keying Lai: College of Education and Human Development, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
Hankun Bian: College of Education and Human Development, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
Haide Chen: College of Education and Human Development, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
Lingfeng Gao: College of Education and Human Development, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 22, 1-12

Abstract: Background: Previous studies have shown that socializing with other smokers is an essential trigger for social smoking among smokers with a low nicotine dependence. This study further explored the mediating effects of the belief of smoking rationalization and smoker identity on the relationship between socializing with smokers and social smoking behavior. Methods: A cross-sectional design was conducted. A total of 696 low-nicotine-dependent smokers in China completed questionnaires that assessed socializing with smokers, social smoking behavior, smoker identity, and the belief of smoking rationalization. The mediating roles of the belief of smoking rationalization and smoker identity on the relationship between socializing with smokers and social smoking behavior were assessed by using SPSS 23 and AMOS 23. Results: The belief of smoking rationalization, smoker identity, socializing with smokers, and social smoking behavior were significantly and positively correlated with each other. In addition, this study found an independently mediated role for smoker identity in the relationship with smoker socialization and social smoking behavior, and a sequentially mediated role for smoking rationalization and smoker identity in this relationship. Conclusion: Reducing the belief of smoking rationalization and smoker identity may be conducive to reducing social smoking behavior for low-nicotine-dependent smokers when socializing with other smokers.

Keywords: social smoking behavior; socializing with smokers; belief of smoking rationalization; smoker identity; smokers with low nicotine dependence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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