Cigarette-Smoking Behavior Correlates with High Anxiety among University Students

Abstract

Cigarette smoking is always harmful since it is one of the primary reasons for human death, however, smoking can be prevented.  In the Philippines, there are dearth of studies conducted that deal with cigarette smoking and anxiety among college students.  The main purpose of the study is to find out the cigarette-smoking behavior among college students and its correlates to anxiety. The researcher used of questionnaires, standardized test and interviews to gather data.  Likewise, descriptive-correlational method, purposive sampling and SPSS were utilized. Out of 1,866 freshman students surveyed in Isabela State University Main Campus, Philippines, 286 were current smokers. Findings revealed that most of the participants are in their adolescence stage,  male dominated, received minimal allowance, have parents with high educational attainment, and their parents’  jobs  require physical labor.  Results showed that peer, familial, mass media, environmental factors respectively except for the teacher factor had considerable impact on the smoking behavior of the participants.  Findings indicated that most of the smokers have a high level of anxiety.  Anxiety is significantly related to the developmental stage when one started smoking and sticks he/she consumed per day.  An intervention program aimed at reducing anxiety and cigarette smoking among students need further research. Keywords -  Health Science, smoking and mental health problem, cigarette smoking behavior, anxiety, current smokers, descriptive-correlational design, Isabela, Philippines