Self-Efficacy as a Predictor of Smoking Behavior in Young Adolescents

151 p.Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1985.Bandura's self-efficacy theory has potential application to the field of preventive health behavior. The predictive and diagnostic utility of a suitable self-efficacy scale for adolescents could be advantageous in many aspects of health education. Cigarette smoking was deemed an appropriate and relevant example of an unhealthy behavior which is under the control of the participants themselves. This study sought to develop a self-efficacy scale to predict smoking behavior and to diagnose the most vulnerable factors associated with its onset. A sample of 800 seventh and eighth grade students from a predominantly working class city in the midwest received the survey on three separate occasions over an eight month period. The instrument was comprised of 50 self-efficacy items, including social and emotional variables, and a self-report of smoking behavior. The data revealed an association between the total self-efficacy score and reported smoking behavior, implying the predictive capacity of the instrument. Factor analysis indicated several recurring item groups; social opportunities to smoke, emotional stress, and peer influences. These factors determined three subscales that were used as variables in discriminant analyses. The subscales provided significant prediction of smoking behavior, both concurrent and longitudinal relationships were distinguishable. Onset smoking behavior was also predictable over three and five month intervals. Peer influence persisted as the primary determinant of smoking activity. No discernible differences between male and female respondents were noticed. To confirm these results and ascertain the generalizability of this instrument, it is recommended that it be administered in other communities, and in conjunction with biochemical analysis to validate the self-reported smoking behavior. The instrument has potential application as a predictor of smoking behavior, to permit the design of more appropriate prevention programs, and as an effective evaluation measure for such interventions.U of I OnlyRestricted to the U of I community idenfinitely during batch ingest of legacy ETD