The Problem: University of Saint Anthony

UNIVERSITY OF SAINT ANTHONY
(Dr. Santiago G. Ortega Memorial)

City of Iriga
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
CHAPTER I
THE PROBLEM
Introduction
The use of cigarette which contains nicotine and multiple carcinogens can often
lead to addiction especially if the user doesn’t have enough knowledge of what it can do
and how it can affect their body. Smoking among adolescents of minor age is very
rampant nowadays. According to the RA 9211, it is unlawful to sell or distribute tobacco
to minors. It is also stated in the act that buying and using of tobacco by minors is
punishable by law. But unfortunately, this law is rarely respected and followed at all.
An adolescent can have multiple reasons why they smoke. It may be because of their
friends, stree from school and even family problems. Smoking can also affect a student’s
behavior inside the classroom as well as his academic performance.
The smoke emitted through cigarette smoking can cause various illnesses if
inhaled. According to Apelberg (2007), direct and indirect exposures to cigarette
smoking cause these diseases. Direct exposure or first-hand is the actual smoking, while
indirect exposure may be secondhand or inhaling the smoke when a person smokes
near and third-hand smoke or exposure to chemicals that remain after the cigarette is
put out.1
Nowadays, students of minor age engage into cigarette smoking. Smoking
prevalence among the youth is also increasing. Over 22.7% of the Filipino youth are
using tobacco products.5 This activity can affect a student particularly in terms of health,
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behavior and academic performance. Early engagement in smoking can increase the risk
of cardiovascular, pulmonary and other tobacco-related diseases.
A student’s perception on smoking can differ through their knowledge about its
effect to them. It means that if a student is more educated about smoking’s effect, there
would be a higher possibility that they would have a negative perception about it. One
early work by Brenda (2008) , a nursing student, claimed that the nursing student’s
smoking behavior affected their beliefs about smoking. It was identified that there are
significant differences among the beliefs on smoking of students who smoke and those
who do not. The smokers had the same opinions about smoking’s benefits, mainly,
pleasure. While the non-smokers focused more on it’s negative effects.
It was also mentioned by Song et al. (2009) that teenegers are fully aware of the
health effects that smoking might cause them. But they are more knowledgable about
the long term effects such as COPD, heart disease and lung cancer. Smoking also causes
bad breath and decayed teeth and these effects can already be visible in early stages of
smoking effects. These salient effects are not known by teenagersand that’s one factor
on why they still keep on smoking.
According to Hammond (2008), occasional smokers, those who do not smoke
daily, believed that they have the lesser risk for the health effects of smoking due to
control and regulation. In a study conducted by Rogers and Reese (1964), They found
out that smoking also has an effect to the student’s school performance. They stated
that regular cigarette smokers of both sexes had lower gradeaverages, higher absence
frequency, and a higher number of visits to the school health room than nonsmokers.2
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There are numerous factors which leads students to engage in smoking. A study
conducted by Oida (2011) showed that smoking is one of the coping mechanisms of the
students to stress. A study also showed that male smokers are influenced by their
friends who are also smoking.3 Smoking advertisements can also be a factor as shown in
the study of Fine (1972) which says that these type of advertisements can affect
smokers and non-smokers about the pleasure that smoking could give.4
This study focuses mainly on the perception of the Senior High School students
of USANT about smoking. It tackles the student’s opinions about its causes and effects
specifically on their health, behavior and academic performance. It also seeks to provide
a certain solution or program that can persuade students to quit smoking and help the
school heads in deciding new activities and projects that may help their students to
avoid smoking.
Theoretical Framework
This study was anchored to four interrelated theories: The Health Belief Model,
Social Cognitive Theory, Trans-theoretical Model and Physiological Models of Addiction.
Health Belief Model. The Health Belief Model (HBM), developed by social
psychologist Irwin M. Rosenstock, is a psychological model that focuses on the
individuals’ beliefs and attitudes in order to explain and predict their health behaviors. It
was due to a failed tuberculosis (TB) health screening program in the 1950s that caused
HBM to be developed. Since then, HBM has been widely used in health communication
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(Rosenstock, 1974). The health belief model (HBM) is based on expectancy–value
theory, which posits that a person’s values and expectations drive motivation. The HBM
was developed to explain and predict health-related behaviors, and is one of the most
commonly applied models in health behavior research and practice. It suggests that
engagement (or lack of engagement) in health-promoting behavior can be predicted by
people's perceived susceptibility (i.e., beliefs about their risk of contracting a health
condition), perceived threat (feelings concerning the seriousness of contracting an
illness or leaving it untreated), perceived benefits of taking health action and barriers to
action, perceived self-efficacy (i.e., beliefs about their ability to perform the action), and
cues/triggers to action.
In regards to smoking, the HBM would predict that tobacco use is determined by
an individual’s perceptions regarding: susceptibility to tobacco-related diseases; costs,
benefits, and barriers to engaging in smoking or quitting behaviors; and triggers to
change the behavior. A study of high school students in Iran found significant
differences in knowledge, perceived susceptibility, benefits, self-efficacy, and cues to
action between smokers and non-smokers, indicating that the HBM may be useful in
predicting smoking behaviors. Among a sample of Chinese college students, greater
perceived benefits of smoking and higher perceived costs of non-smoking were
associated with being a past or a current smoker. In terms of quitting, high perceived
susceptibility to illness and high self-efficacy have been shown to predict reductions in
smoking. (Greenhalgh et. al., 2016)
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Social Cognitive Theory. Social cognitive theory, an extension of social
learning theory, posits that people learn from one another through observation,
instruction, or modeling. It expands on behaviorism by explaining behavior as a product
of reciprocal interactions between cognitive, behaviorism, and environmental influences.
An important tenet of social cognitive theory is self-efficacy, or the belief or expectation
a person has that he or she can successfully perform a task. Social cognitive theory
posits that self-efficacy is fundamental to any behaviour change. A number of studies
have shown a positive relationship between self-efficacy and changes in smoking
behaviorism.
Social learning theory forms the basis of cognitive behavioral therapy, which considers
that people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors can interact with and influence each
other to maintain problem behaviors. Cognitive behavioral approaches to smoking
cessation aim to break the situational and emotional connections that have been
established with smoking.Behavioral strategies target the pleasurable associations and
situational cues that reinforce and maintain smoking, while cognitive strategies target
the cognitions and emotions that may also play a role in the person’s tobacco use (for
example, the person may believe he or she does not have any control over smoking, or
perceive that it helps with coping)
The Trans-theoretical Model. The transtheoretical model (TTM) posits that
successful behaviour change involves a sequence of steps: precontemplation (not even
thinking about changing), contemplation (thinking about changing), preparation
(planning for change), action (adopting new habits), and maintenance (ongoing practice
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of new, healthier behaviour). The TTM may be useful in explaining and predicting
changes in a range of health behaviours, including smoking cessation.
According to the theory, in order to successfully quit, smokers will move from not
thinking about quitting (pre-contemplation), to seriously considering quitting at some
point (contemplation), to aiming to quit in the immediate future and making plans to do
so (preparation), to quitting (action), to staying quit (maintenance). People may not
always move through the stages in a sequential manner; some may relapse and go back
to an earlier stage, which can depend on their levels of motivation and self-efficacy.
Opponents of the TTM claim that it does not satisfy the criteria required of a
valid stage model, primarily because the stages are not qualitatively distinct
categories.Some have argued that the definitions of the stages are arbitrary, based
either on time frames of intention or length of time quit. An Australian study of Quit-line
callers found only limited support for the TTM in cessation, with the exception of the
importance of self-efficacy. A number of researchers have proposed alternatives to the
stages. For example, it may be more useful to re-categorize pre-quitting into: not
interested, open to the possibility, and actively planning. Post-quitting, there is no
consensus on which categories, if any, would be appropriate. However, there is some
evidence that quitters’ experiences in the first month or so, when strong cravings to
smoke occur at least daily, are different from the subsequent period when cravings are
less common (Greenhalgh et. al., 2016).
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Theoretical Paradigm
Likehood Action Individual Perceptions Modifying Factors
AGE, SEX, ETHNICITY
PERSONALITY, PERCIEVED
SOCIO ECONOMICS BENEFITS MINUS
PERCIEVED
KNOWLEDGE BARRIERS
PERCIEVED
SUSCPETIBILITY
AND SEVERITY OF
DISEASE LIKEHOOD OF
PERCIEVED THREAT BEHAVIOR
OF DISEASE
CUES TO ACTION
Figure 1. Health Belief Model
Figure 2. Social Cognitive Theory
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Figure 3. Transtheoretical Model
Transtheoretical
Model
The Perception
of Grade 11
Stem Students
of USANT on
Smoking
Health Belief Social Cognitive

Model Theory
Figure 4. The Perception of Grade 11 Stem Students of USANT on Smoking
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Conceptual Framework
The conceptual paradigm is presented in Figure 5 serves as the research guide of
the study. The researchers used a systematic approach which shows the interplay of
three important elements: Input, Process and Output.
Input: The personal profile of the participants as well as their health status, academic
performance and frequency in smoking. Their persepctive about smoking, The reasons
why they smoke, their knowledge on smoking’s effect and the programs that can help
them stop smoking.
Process: The analysis of data gathered throughout the research and discussion of the
conclusions and recommendations of the study.
Output: With all the gathered and analyzed data, the the study entitled The Perception
of Grade 11 STEM Students of University of Saint Anthony on Smoking is now the
output.
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Input Process Output
1. Personal profile of
the chosen
students:
A. age
B. hobbies and • Gathering of
interests data through
C. health status interview
2. What is their • Analysis and
perspective about interpretation
smoking? of the data The Perception of
3. Why do they gathered Grade 11 STEM
smoke? Students of
• Discussion of University of Saint
4. What is their
conclusions and Anthony on
knowledge on its
effect?
recommendatio Smoking
5. What are the ns that were
programs and made
activities that can throughout the
help and persuade study
students to stop
smoking?
Feedback
Figure 5. Conceptual Paradigm
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Statement of the Problem
The study aims to determine the Perception of Grade 11 STEM Students of
USANT Senior High School Department on Smoking. Furthermore, the problems sought
in this study are as follows:
1. What are the personal profile of the participants in terms of:
a) age
b) hobbies and interests
c) health status
2. What is their perspective about smoking?
3. Why do they smoke?
4. What is their knowledge on its effect?
5. What are the programs and activities that can help and persuade students to
stop smoking?
Assumptions of the Study
1. The personal profile of the participants have a specific relation to smoking.
2. The participant’s perspective about smoking varies.
3. Students engage in smoking due to the following reasons:
a. It serves as their stress reliever
b. Peer pressure and influence
c. Parental influence
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d. Environmental Factors
4. The participants have little or no knowledge about the effects of smoking in
terms of their health, behavior and academic performance.
5. Yes, they considered quitting from smoking because of their parent’s prohibition.
6. Counseling and support from the parents, school and guidance counseling can be
done to persuade students to undergo smoking cessation, and advocay
campaigns, symposium and seminars about the cause and effect of smoking to
students.
Significance of the study
In today’s modern time, most of the minor-aged students are now using cigarettes.
The result of this work may be highly beneficial and significant specifically to the
following:
Students. This study will enable the senior high school students to
understand and realize the cause and effect of using cigarette. The result of this study
will help them determine their weak and strong points thus make them realize about the
effects of smoking may it be good or bad.
Teachers. Teachers as the prime movers of knowledge, they will be aware of
the academic performance of the student using cigarette and and they will be able to do
strategic approaches to motivate and persuade the students to quit smoking.
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Parents. As an active parent, they will be also aware of the health
consequences of smoking and they will have the knowledge to teach their children in
terms in smoking.
School Administrators. This study will help the department heads to
formulate rules and regulations ,policies and standards that can help students to quit
smoking. And also they can make an activity proponent to encourage students
participate well and to be an effective role model.
Government. The study will help the government to implement a law in
connection with the minors that are using cigarettes. And they will have the flexibility to
make policies and standards to avoid this problem which is smoking among youth.
School Heads. This study will also help the school heads to prevent the
students from smoking. And have the authority make new policies that can control
students from smoking. This study can also give ideas on how to solve this issue
Future Researchers. This study can serve as a guide for the future
researchers. It may help them avoid the mistakes and errors that we have encountered
throughout the whole study. They may also continue this study if ever there are certain
issues that needs to be discussed and studied throuroughly.
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Scope and Delimitation
This study aims to know to the perspective of students about smoking. The
scope area of this study is only in the Senior High School students of University of Saint
Anthony SY 2018-2019 . For us to be able to gather the information that we need, we
would conduct an interview among the Grade 11 STEM students who smoke.
Definition of Terms
Cigarette. a slender roll of cut tobacco enclosed in paper meant to be smoked
Carcinogens. a substance or agent causing cancer
Nicotine. a poisonous chemical found in tobacco
First-hand smoke. inhaled by the smoker
Second-hand smoke. which is the smoke either exhaled by a smoker or released from
the end of a burning cigarette
Addiction. compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance (such as heroin,
nicotine, or alcohol) characterized by tolerance and by well-defined physiological
symptoms upon withdrawal
Tobacco. the leaves of cultivated tobacco prepared for use in smoking or chewing or as
snuff
Smoker. person who smoke cigarettes, cigars, etc.
Asthma.a chronic lung disorder that is marked by recurring episodes of airway
obstruction.
Tuberculosis.a serious disease that mainly affects the lungs.
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REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
FOREIGN LITERATURE
Song et al. (2009) asserts that adolescents who held the lowest perceptions of
long-term smoking- related risks were 3.64 times more likely to start smoking than were
adolescents who held the highest perceptions of risk. Adolescents who held the lowest
perceptions of short-term smoking-related risks were 2.68 times more likely to initiate
smoking. Adolescents who held the highest perceptions of smoking-related benefits
were 3.31 times more likely to initiate smoking. They also concluded that smoking
initiation is directly related to smoking-related perceptions of risks and benefits. Efforts
to reduce adolescent smoking should continue to communicate the health risks of
smoking and counteract perceptions of benefits associated with smoking. They indicate
that, consistent with theories of risk behaviors and health promotion, adolescent risk
behavior decision-making is not based solely on perceived risks or perceived benefits.
Instead, adolescents’ decisions about tobacco use are based on a balance of both
perceived risks and perceived benefits. It only shows that adolescents knows the long-
term effects of smoking such as lung cancer but not risks that they may find salient such
as bad breath and getting into trouble.
A literature by Scales et al.(2009) maintains that teens smoke to improve their
image (particularly, teen girls) to achieve social acceptance among their peers. That
smoking is used to portray a certain image (e.g., cooler, more acceptable) is reinforced
by media images and teens’ desire to look like actors that they hold in high esteem. In
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addition, the findings indicate that teens initiate and continue smoking in large part
because they view their family members smoking. This, coupled with the finding that
peers influence teens, suggests that teens’ social environment plays a definitive role in
shaping their smoking behavior. This further implies that the development of smoking-
cessation messages, campaigns, and interventions should consider an ecological
approach to intervention development that is able to address the interaction of
individual, intrapersonal, social, and environmental factors affecting smoker behavior.
(Health Education Behavior, 2009)
According to a 2004 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report,
worldwide, smoking kills three million people each year and this figure is increasing.
They predict that in most countries, the worst is yet to come, because by the time the
young smokers of today reach middle or old age, there will be approximately 10 million
deaths per year from tobacco use. Approximately 500 million individuals alive today can
expect to be killed by tobacco and 250 million of these deaths will occur in the middle
age group. Tobacco is already the biggest cause of adult death in developed countries.
Over the next few decades, tobacco is expected to become the biggest cause of adult
death in the world.
When you smoke, the poisons from the tar in your cigarettes enter your blood
and make your blood thicker, and increase chances of clot formation, increase blood
pressure and heart rate, making your heart work harder than normal, narrow your
arteries, reducing the amount of oxygen rich blood circulating to your organs. Together,
these changes to your body when you smoke increase the chance of your arteries
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narrowing and clots forming, which can cause a heart attack or stroke. It is also have an
increased chance of getting stomach cancer or ulcers as it can weaken the muscle that
controls the lower end of your gullet (esophagus) and allow acid from the stomach to
travel in the wrong direction back up your gullet, a process known as reflux. It is a
significant risk factor for developing kidney cancer, and the more you smoke the greater
the risk. It also reduces the amount of oxygen that gets to your skin. This means that if
you smoke, your skin ages more quickly and looks grey and dull. The toxins in your
body also cause cellulite. It prematurely ages your skin by between 10 and 20 years,
makes it three times more likely you'll get facial wrinkling, particularly around the eyes
and mouth and even gives you a sallow, yellow-grey complexion and hollow cheeks,
which can cause you to look gaunt. Also, it can cause your bones to become weak and
brittle.
Women need to be especially careful, as they are more likely to suffer from
brittle bones (osteoporosis) than non-smokers. One way that smoking can increase your
risk of a stroke is by increasing your chances of developing a brain aneurysm. This is a
bulge in a blood vessel caused by a weakness in the blood vessel wall. This can rupture
or burst which will lead to an extremely serious condition known as a subarachnoid
hemorrhage, which is a type of stroke, and can cause extensive brain damage and
death. Your lungs can be very badly affected by smoking. Coughs, colds, wheezing and
asthma are just the start. Smoking can cause fatal diseases such as pneumonia,
emphysema and lung cancer. Smoking causes 84% of deaths from lung cancer and 83%
of deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
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COPD, a progressive and debilitating disease, is the name for a collection of lung
diseases including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. People with COPD have
difficulties breathing, primarily due to the narrowing of their airways and destruction of
lung tissue. Typical symptoms of COPD include: increasing breathlessness when active,
a persistent cough with phlegm and frequent chest infections. Whilst the early signs of
COPD can often be dismissed as a ‘smoker’s cough’, if people continue smoking and the
condition worsens, it can greatly impact on their quality of life. Smoking causes
unattractive problems such as bad breath and stained teeth, and can also cause gum
disease and damage your sense of taste. The most serious damage smoking causes in
your mouth and throat is an increased risk of cancer in your lips, tongue, throat, voice
box and gullet (esophagus). More than 93% of pharyngeal cancers, which is the cancer
in part of the throat, is caused by smoking. Lastly, it can cause male impotence, as it
damages the blood vessels that supply blood to the penis, also damage sperm, reduce
sperm count and cause testicular cancer. For women, smoking can reduce fertility.
One study found that smokers were over three times more likely than non-
smokers to have taken more than one year to conceive. The study estimated that the
fertility of smoking women was 72% that of non-smokers. Smoking also increases your
risk of cervical cancer. People who smoke are less able to get rid of the HPV infection
from the body, which can develop into cancer. Smoking while you are pregnant can lead
to miscarriage, premature birth, stillbirth and illness, and it increases the risk of cot
death by at least 25%.
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Sir Richard Doll was one of the first researchers to link cigarette smoking with
lung cancer in the 1950s. Cancer, cardiovascular diseases and chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease continue to be the main health problems associated with cigarette
smoking.
Because of the ant estrogenic protective effects of smoking, the role of smoking
in breast cancer is also controversial. However, recent studies suggest that both active
and passive smoking may have a role in the occurrence of breast cancer. In both men
and women, cancers of the head and neck are also on the rise, and this has been
attributed to increased use of smokeless tobacco products. Also, a synergistic interaction
between cigarette smoking and radon exposure was confirmed in a large study that
showed that lung cancer incidence due to an interaction between smoking and radon
exposure exceeded incidence accounted for by additive effects.
Ling and Glantz (2007) have attempted to shed light on why the tobacco
industry has intensified its marketing efforts among young adults. They explain: “First,
the industry views the transition from smoking the first cigarette to becoming a
confirmed pack-a-day smoker as a series of stages that may extend to age 25, and it
has developed marketing strategies not only to encourage initial experimentation (often
as teens), but also to carry new smokers through each stage of this process. Second,
industry marketers encourage solidification of smoking habits and increases in cigarette
consumption by focusing on key transition moments when young adults adopt new
behaviors, such as entering new workplaces, school, military, and especially leisure and
social activities. Third, tobacco companies study young adults’ attitudes, social groups,
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values, aspirations, role models, and activities, and infiltrate both their physical and
social environments.”
As described above, a number of recent articles provide provocative new
evidence and ideas regarding tobacco industry strategies and trends in smoking among
young adults. The evidence to date is of a simple ecological nature: smoking rates
among young adults rose several years after the industry first introduced promotional
activities in bars, nightclubs, and other venues targeting young adults (in the late
1980s), and shortly after these types of efforts were intensified (in the early to mid-
1990s).
LOCAL LITERATURE
Kashiwagi (2017) stated in that for tobacco control policy in the Philippines,
the government signed the WHO FCTC (Framework Convention on Tobacco Control) in
2003, and the treaty was ratified in 2005. R.A. 9211, known as the “Tobacco Regulation
Act of 2003”, mandated a warning label on 30% of the fronts of tobacco product
packages in English or Filipino. However, some Filipinos have a custom of buying
individual cigarettes from street vendors and not purchasing a box. The social custom of
street vendors selling individual cigarettes might be helpful in keeping people as light
smokers. In addition to the FCTC policies, modifying this custom might lower the
percentage of the smoking population in the Philippines and assist in the establishment
of correct self-rated health among older Filipinos which means that one factor of why
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youth engages in smoking is because the product, which is the cigarette, is accessible
and can be availed easily.
The 2009 Philippine GATS used a three-stage stratified cluster sample design
to produce key indicators for the country as a whole stratified by male/female and
urban/rural areas. A total of 12,086 households were selected; 10,701 households were
screened; 9,984 individuals aged 15 years and older were identified; and 9,705
interviews were completed. One individual was randomly chosen from each selected
household to participate in the survey. The household response rate was 97.3% (97.3%
urban, 97.3% rural); the individual response rate was 97.4% (96.9% urban, 97.8%
rural); and the overall response rate was 94.8%. GATS provide information on tobacco
use, cessation, second-hand smoke (SHS), economics, media, knowledge, attitudes, and
perceptions. Wherein the Overall, 94.0% believe that smoking causes serious illness. But
the belief that smoking causes specific illness varies: stroke (75.5%), heart attack
(81.3%), and lung cancer (95.6%). Clearly stating that they know about smoking’s
effect to their health in long-term usage.
Furthermore, Page and West (2012) also stated that from 2000 to 2007
Marlboro clearly became the most preferred brand in both boys and girls. Further,
Marlboro smokers were found to exhibit a stronger commitment to smoking, to smoke
more frequently, and to hold more positive images of smoking compared to other brand
smokers. Tobacco control efforts in the Philippines may benefit from educational and
policy initiatives that lead to aggressive counter marketing efforts to address the
industry’s efforts to portray positive images of smoking.
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Higher cigarette prices can actually and effectively curb the increasing
prevalence of smoking in the country, especially among the youth. Tobacco tax reforms
can definitely help in achieving this goal. By removing the price classification freeze on
cigarette brands; moving from a multi-tiered to a unitary taxing system, and
continuously and constantly indexing prices according to inflation, we help do our part in
protecting the youth from the ill effects of smoking. (Youth And Cigarette Smoking,
2014)
FOREIGN STUDY
According to the Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey (CTUMS),
emerging adults (aged 18-24) have the highest smoking rate among all age groups; in
2004, 26% of 18-19 year olds and 28% of 20-24 year olds reported current tobacco use
(Health Canada, 2005). In contrast, the average smoking rate among the Canadian
population aged 15+ was 20%.
More recently, Hammond (2005) used the 2004 Canadian Tobacco Use
Monitoring Survey (CTUMS) data to explore smoking behaviors among Canadians aged
18-29 (n= 3,812). In this study, current smokers were defined as respondents who
reported smoking more than 100 cigarettes in their lifetime and at least once in the past
30-days. Among those in the sample, approximately 32.8% reported being a student in
the past year and of these students, 21.6% reported current tobacco use. Given that
approximately one third of all young adults in this sample were students, students
accounted for one quarter of all young adult smokers, far more than any other single
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workplace category. Hammond also found that, among smokers, students smoked fewer
cigarettes per day than those who worked..
In a recent research by Lenz (2004) suggests that other lifestyle factors are
also associated with smoking among this population. Among a sample of 203 students
from the 2001 College Health Survey, small associations were found for tobacco use
during the past year and level of fitness since high school and for tobacco use during
the past month and decreasing current level of fitness.In addition, (Lenz, 2004) he was
found that students who used tobacco were significantly more likely to be exposed to
smoke than students who did not use tobacco. Interestingly, students who reported
tobacco use experienced more exposure to smoke on weekends compared to weekdays.
According to Delnevo and colleagues (2005), the adolescent-based definition
is likely to generate a higher estimate of current cigarette smoking than the adult
definition when used in populations in which late initiation is suspected. Furthermore,
the adolescent measure by itself is insufficient to document progression to regular
smoking in emerging adults as it fails to document ‘established’ smoking, often defined
as 100 cigarettes in a lifetime. On the other hand, the adult measure misses those 18-24
years olds whose smoking may be increasing but who have not yet reached 100
cigarettes, thus failing to identify these ‘at-risk’ smokers (Delnevo et al, 2005). Clearly,
further research is needed to determine how to best measure current cigarette smoking
in this unique population.
The study conducted by Choi et al (2003) found that exposure to peer and
parental smoking did not predict progression of smoking among baseline never smokers
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four years later in college. However, peer approval of smoking predicted smoking
progression among baseline experimental smokers.
LOCAL STUDY
The study conducted by Cheruiyot et al. (2013) concludes that there were
several factors that could influence teenagers to the smoking behavior. Proximity of
vendors to the consumers was a very obvious result as to the extent of its influence and
cigarette smoking in response to stress was another factor identified. These two
influential factors were true to all teenager wither they were group into gender and age
group. Extent of influence varies with teenagers when they were grouped according to
gender and age group. Females were more magnetized to the vice than the males.
Younger groups are more influenced by parents and peer compared with the older age
group. Despite the awareness of the effects of cigarette smoking, adolescents still
submit to the behavior of tobacco use. Awareness alone does not therefore motivate the
tobacco users to change or modify the behavior.
A study by Peltzer and Pedpid (2015) had shown that significant
improvements in health risk and risk behaviors (overweight or obese and smokeless
tobacco use among boys, being in a physical fight, troubles from alcohol drinking,
mental health, oral and hand hygiene among both boys and girls) but also increases in
health risk behavior (bullying victimization, injury and loneliness among both boys and
girls) were found in this large study over a period of eight years in the Philippines. High
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prevalence of health risk behaviors and increases in some of them should call for
intensified school health promotion programs to reduce such risk behaviors.
Moreover, Sarmiento’s study on Smoking in Girls and Young Women
(2008) in the Philippines provided updated data on girls and young women’s smoking
experience and behavior, awareness on the health risks of smoking, exposures to
tobacco advertising, promotion, sponsorship and bans, attitude and beliefs towards
smoking.
The smoking patterns among the girls in all levels revealed 17.4% smoked less
than a stick. 62.9% preferred manufactured brands of cigarettes, 40.7% found it easy
to acquire cigarettes while 47.4% of the girls smoked to relief tension and stress. The
girls also had high awareness of the health risk of smoking as reflected by the higher
percentages among those who knew that smoking is bad for the health, and that
secondhand smoke can cause lung cancer. Most of the girls agreed with the opinion that
smoking does not help control weight, smoking is not a symbol of modernity, smokers
do not look cool and fit and also disagreed that it is acceptable for young men and girls
to smoke at their age, that smokers have more friends as well as that society
disapproves of smoking.
Most of the girls had high exposure to anti-smoking campaigns, particularly from
television, radio, newspapers and magazines. Most girls also had high level of awareness
of tobacco advertising, having noticed them in posters and billboards and from movie
ads, and to a lesser degree in discos and karaoke lounges. A greater percentage,
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63.2%, was also aware of the anti-smoking messages on cigarette packs and anti-
smoking bans in ads, other items and places.
Overall, the extent of smoking is increasing among girls in the Philippines.
Cigarettes in the Philippines are widely available and accessible and young girls find it
easy to acquire cigarettes preferring manufactured brands. The qualitative research also
supports the notion that mixed forms of tobacco promotions flourish in this country due
to weak control on penalty measures, that cigarette packs should contain more health
information, and that the government should implement pictorial health warnings which
are more effective in reducing smoking among young people, with a high level of
perception that cigarette companies lie about the dangers of smoking.
Another study conducted by Aguillon and Romano (2012) about smoking had
proven that majority of the students did not know the RA 9211 yet they had high
knowledge on some smoking policies. It is also indicated there that there is generally a
high susceptibility and severity of having smoking- related diseases as perceived by NCR
male high school students. Thus the students perceived that they had a high chance of
acquiring very severe smoking-related diseases. The major finding of this study was that
there was a weak correlation between the NCR male high school students’ exposure to
and recall of anti- smoking advertisements and their perceptions of and attitudes
towards smoking.
It was found out that the students have high exposure to anti-smoking ads; this
exposure could be too much repetitive that it weakens the effect of the ads to the
students’ attitudes toward and perceptions of smoking. Aside from this, the participants
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of the FGDs said that most of the anti-smoking ads that they saw had little effect on
their perceptions of smoking. They also said that they saw more smoking ads than anti-
smoking ads. They suggested that the anti-smoking ads should be more graphical,
colorful, and many in order for these ads to have a great effect on them.
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END NOTES
1. Apelberg, B. (2007). MHS Institute for Global Tobacco Control. Johns Hopkins
Bloomberg School of Public Health.
2. Rogers, K.D. and Reese, G. (1964). Smoking And High School
Performance: Relationship of Cigarette Smoking to Academic Performance, Absence
From School, And Visits to The School Nurse.
3. Ma, G.X. et al. 2005. Tobacco use, Secondhand Smoke Exposure And Their Related
Knowledge, Attitudes And Behaviors Among Asian Americans: Addictive Behaviors, 30,
pp. 725–740.
4. Fine, G.A.(1972). The Psychology of cigarette advertising: Professional puffery:
Journal of Popular Culture, 6, pp. 513-522.
5. World Health Organization (2009a). Global Adult Tobacco Survey: Philippines
6. Stretcher,V. and Rosentock I.M.(1997). The Health Belief Model. InK. Glanz,
F.M.Lewis, and B.KRimer (Eds). Health Behavior and Health Education:Theory,Research
and Practice (2nded). San Francisco:Jossey Bass.
7. Greenhalgh, EM., Stillman, S., and Ford, C. 7.3 Theories about smoking and quitting.
In Scollo, MM and Winstanley, MH [editors]. Tobacco in Australia: Facts and issues.
Melbourne: Cancer Council Victoria; 2016.
9. Aguillon, J. M. and Romano, P. B. 2012. “SmokeCheck: A Study on the Effects of NCR
Male High School Students’ Exposure to and Recall of Anti-Smoking Advertisements to
Their Perceptions of and Attitudes toward Smoking.” U.P. Diliman.
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Iriga City
10. Song, A. V., Morrell, H. E., Cornell, J. L., Ramos, M. E., Biehl, M., Kropp, R. Y., &
Halpern-Felsher, B. L. (2008). Perceptions of Smoking-Related Risks and Benefits as
Predictors of Adolescent Smoking Initiation, American Journal of Public Health, 99(3),
487-92.
11. “Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Report. 2004.”
12. Ling, P. M., Neilands, T. B., & Glantz, S. A. (2007). “The Effect Of Support For Action
Against The Tobacco Industry On Smoking Among Young Adults.” American Journal of
Public Health.
13. Scales, M. B., Monahan, J. L., Rhodes, N., Roskos-Ewoldsen, D., & Johnson-Turbes,
A. (2009). Adolescents’ Perceptions of Smoking and Stress Reduction. Health Education
& Behavior, 36(4), pp. 746–758.
14. Kashiwagi, S. (2017). Relation between Smoking Habits and Self-Rated Health of
Older Persons in the Philippines: Evidence-Based Tobacco Policy Advocacy. Open Journal
of Political Science, 7, pp. 488-500.
15. Philippines Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) Report. March 2010
16. Page, R. M., & West, J. H. (2012). The Philippines is Marlboro Country for Youth
Smoking: Results from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS). Journal of Drug
Education, 42(2), pp. 159–176.
18. Cheruiyot, Joan & Retuta, Marjorie & Arasa, Geofrey & Kiprono, Sabella & Korir,
Scholastica & Kamau, Simon. (2013). “The Extent of Influence of Factors on Cigarette
Smoking Among Teenagers in Baguio City: A Cross-Sectional Study.” Journal of Natural
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Sciences Research. International Institute of Science Technology, Education, 3,pp. 132-
140.
19. Peltzer, K., Pengpid, S., & Wang, H.H. (2015). “Health Risk Behaviour Among In-
School Adolescents in the Philippines: Trends between 2003, 2007 and 2011, A Cross-
Sectional Study”. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
20. Aguillon, J. &Romano, P. (2012). SMOKECHECK: A Study On The Effects Of NCR
Male High School Students’ Exposure To And Recall Of Anti-Smoking Advertisements To
Their Perceptions Of And Attitudes Towards Smoking, Unpublished Thesis, University Of
The Philippines College Of Mass Communication.
21. Sarmiento, C. Q. 2008. “Philippines 2007 Regional Study on Smoking in Girls and
Young Women”. JPAIR Multidisciplinary Research Journal, 1(1).
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CHAPTER II
Research Methodology
Research Design
This study aims to know the perceptions the minor students of USANT Senior
High School Department about smoking. In this research, we look forward to know if
smoking has a specific effect in a student’s health status, behavior and academic
performance. Moreover, we aim to know what are their perceptions about smoking. In
order for us to identify these, we would need a research design that would be fit for this
kind of study.
This study applied the qualitative method of research wherein it would allow us
obtain the in-depth data from the participants. The research design that the researchers
used in conducting this research is Phenomenology. This design deals about the
participants’ sensory experiences on earth. As a research method, phenomenology is an
approach that attempts to understand the hidden meanings and the essence of an
experience as well as how participants make sense of an experience. Through interview,
we may be able to gather all the needed data for us to accomplish this study with
accuracy.
This study applied the descriptive-phenomenological method for it aims to
identify and understand the psychological essences, patterns and structure of an
experience.
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Respondents of the Study and Key Informants
One of the goals of this study is to identify that factors which lead minor-aged
students to start smoking and the feelings or experiences that they had felt when
smoking.
The participants of this study are only limited to 20 students who are smoking
from the Grade 11 STEM Senior High School of University of Saint Anthony.
Data Gathering Tools of the Study
The research instrument used in this study is Interview. It involves an
interviewer who coordinates the process of the conversation and asks questions, and an
interviewee (participants), who responds to those questions (Easwaramoorthy, 2006).
The researchers made use of the semi-structured type of interview wherein the
researchers asked a set of predetermined questions that were answered by the
participants through their own words.
The questions that were asked to the participants duringthe Interview are as follows:
1. What is your age, hobbies and interests?
2. What is your health status at the moment?
3. What comes into your mind when you hear the word “smoking”?
4. Why and when did you start to smoke?
5. When do you usually smoke and how many sticks do you commonly consume?
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6. Does smoking affect you? What are the effects of smoking to your health,
behavior and academic performance?
Validity and Reliability
The questions that were used in the interview were checked and approved by
the thesis adviser and editor. The data gathered in this study will be validated and
labeled as reliable through the use of manuscripts from conducted interview. Audio
recordings of the whole interview will be done.
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CHAPTER III
DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
Personal Profile
In terms of personal profile, we asked the participants what their age, hobbies
and interests are for us to know if it has a specific relation to smoking. 17 out of 20
participants told us that they are in 17 years of age. 2 of the participants are 16 years
old and only 1 of our participants was 19 years old.5 out of 20 participants have active
hobbies, which are sports such as basketball, badminton, swimming, table tennis,
volleyball and biking. 4 of them are also interested in playing computer games and using
social media. 4 of them also mentioned that they both have active and recreational
hobbies such as watching tv/ movies, playing sports and online games. 3 of the
participants are interested in performing activities such as dancing, singing and playing
instruments. Only 2 of the respondents answered that their hobby is hanging out. Only 1
of the participant answered that he likes drawing and the remaining 1 said that he likes
sleeping.
Based on the responses of the interview, most of them are affected especially
those participants who are playing active sports such as basketball for they experience
difficulty of breathing during the game. They also mentioned that they now experience
fatigue even for a short period of time of playing.
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Health Status
One of our interview questions aims to know the current health status of every
respondent for we would like to assess if their health status affects their perception
about smoking. We would like to know if their health condition hinders them from
smoking or if they are even aware of their health condition.
Majority of our respondents believes that they have a good health status at the
moment. One of those respondents even said that he expects that it (illness) will come
soon.
Participant 15:
“Sa ngayon wala naman (akong sakit) pero inaasahan ko siyang
dumating pero sana nga wag naman”
2 of our participants stated that they have asthma. One had kidney spots and
the other one stated that he had an operation before due to heart disease and he said
that he still have it until now.
Participant 14:
“Noon meron ano hmm, meron akong sakit sa puso hanggang ngayon.
Inoperahan ako.”
Based on the responses, the participants all think that they have a good health
status. Furthermore, some of the respondents are aware that they have a medical
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condition, which can be worsened by smoking such asthma and heart disease. This only
means that their health status doesn’t hinder them at all in doing the said activity.
Perceptions about Smoking
One of the goals of this study is to find out the perspective of our participants
towards smoking. We asked them about the things that come up in their mind when
they hear the word smoking and their answers varied. Perception pertains to a person’s
views and opinions about a certain topic. 6 of the participants stated things about the
negative health effects of smoking and how it affects our body.
Participant 10:
“Nakasisira sa health” (It damages the health)
Participant 19:
“Parang nakakaapekto ito sa health sabi nila” (It affects the health, as
they usually say)
Participant 13:
“Parang masama sa kalusugan at maraming sakit na kung ano ano” (It is
bad for the health and different diseases)
Participant 11:
“Nakasisira sa lungs at madaling mapagod sa mga gawain” (It destroys
the lungs and it causes fatigue)
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4 of the participants said that smoking is something that affects a person, both
positively and negatively. They defended that smoking, despite of its negative effects,
gives them pleasure and it helps them relax.
Participant 7:
“Mabaho pero masarap” (It smells bad but it tastes good)
Participant 14:
“Para sa akin parang kasiyahan tapos chill at sakit na rin” (For me,
happiness and chill. And also, disease)
Participant 15:
“Maliban sa negative effect nito at yung effect nito ay nakakapagpagaan
ng loob sa akin” (Aside from its negative effects, it has an effect that helps me
relax)
4 of the respondents also stated the feelings and emotions that they feel about
smoking.
Participant 5:
“Exciting”
Participant 6:
“Bad”
Participant 8:
“Hmm, scary”
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Participant 20:
“Smoking is relaxing for me for I am a smoker”
2 of the participants had responses about what they see and vision when they
hear the word smoking. They pertained about what they see when someone is smoking.
Participant 2:
“Ahmm, usok” (Smoke)
Participant 4:
“Syempre sigarilyo at yosi” (Cigarette)
One of the participants answered by stating a specific situation. This situation
showsthat smoking is caused by problems and stress.
Participant 17:
“Para sakin minsan kasi smoking ito yung cause kasi may problema yung
tao kaya dinadaan nalang sa smoking” (For me, smoking is caused by a person’s
problems and current life status)
Causes of Smoking
Another objective of this study is to find out the factors, which caused the
participants to start smoking. We would like to know the causes why they started
smoking for us to know how to persuade other students to avoid smoking. 3 of the
participants started smoking in their early age. 16 out of 20 participants stated that they
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started smoking during their High School days. Only one of the participants started
smoking this senior high school.
Studies have shown that an adolescent’s peers play a big role on his
development. Which means that his friends can influence his decisions, actions, and way
of thinking. In the interview done, 8 of the participants claimed that they started
smoking due to peer influence.
Participant 1:
“Hmm, elementary dala ng mga barkada”
Participant 14:
“Grade 9 yata or grade 10. Nakisama lang ako sa barkada at pinatikim
nila ko at yun nagustuhan ko”
Participant 3:
“Grade 11 because of BI friends (Bad Influence)”
Furthermore, 4 of the participants said that they started smoking because they
were curious and they wanted to try smoking.
Participant 15:
“Since grade 5. Siguro curiosity kasi bata pako nun eh”
Participant 13:
“Since grade 7 siguro curious lang ako at gusto ko rin ma try”
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Participant 7:
“Grade 10 para ma try lang”
One of the assumptions of this study is that environmental factor is one of the
factors which causes the participants to smoke. These include stress caused by the
people around the participant. 7 of them stated that they are smoking because of stress
and problems caused mainly by their family and school pressure. One also mentioned
that smoking gives him pleasure.
Participant 18:
“Nung june 2018 dahil sa school pressure tapos family problems”
Participant 6:
“Grade 10 gusto ko lang kapag may problema”
Participant 10:
“Nung grade 9 dahil sa family problem”
Participant 4:
“Noong grade 10 ako last year. Siguro dahil dulot ng stress”
Participant 19:
“Last year, wala masarap”
Smoking Frequency and Patterns
Smoking frequency refers as to how often the participants’ smoke while smoking
patterns refers to the usual time when participants smoke. We asked them about their
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smoking frequency and pattern for it can be a factor on why they engage in smoking.
When we asked them about their smoking patterns, 3 of the participants stated that
they smoke after or every mealtime at noon. One even mentioned that it serves as his
dessert.
Participant 15:
“Pakatapos kumain kapag busog masarap magsmoke. Kulang kulang
isang kaha depende kung may pera.”
9 of the participants said that they smoke regularly. Some said that they smoke
everyday twice, morning and afternoon and some said that they could smoke up to 5
sticks regularly.
Participant 10:
“Limang stick everyday”
Participant 19:
“Everyday, dalawa maybe 2 or 3”
Participant 20:
“Everyday. I smoke 2 sticks each day”
Furthermore, 8 of the participants stated that they only smoke occasionally. Most
of them mentioned about smoking during tambay or hangout. Others stated different
situations as to when they smoke. Some said that they smoke when they are bored,
when they have problems, when there are occasions and when they want to relax.
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Participant 3:
“Kapag ano, tumatambay tapos kapag medyo naboboring ako. Dalawang
stick”
Participant 5:
“Tuwing may okasyon. Kapag sobrang nalilibang. Minsan isang kaha”
Participant 7:
“Kapag halimbawa ano… gusto kong magrelax. Dalawa, minsan tatlo”
When we asked them about how often they smoke, some mentioned that they
often depend it on their budget or money. It means that they can consume up to 1 pack
of cigarette if they have enough money. One of the participants also stated that he only
smokes in Iriga and not near his house because his parents are not aware that he is
smoking.
Participant 15:
“Pakatapos kumain kapag busog masarap magsmoke. Kulang kulang
isang kaha depende kung may pera.”
Participant 11:
“Pag hapon and dito lang sa Iriga. Kalahating kaha”
Participant 16:
“Pagbored. Depende sa pera. Minsan makalilimang sticks.”
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We have classified the participants of this study as to how frequent do they
smoke. 5 of the participants are categorized as Light Smokers for they only smoke a
maximum of 1-3 sticks of cigarettes. 3 are categorized as Occasional Smokers for they
only smoke rarely and they only consume 2-5 sticks. Furthermore, 3 of them are
categorized as Moderate Smokers for they can only consume a maximum of 5 sticks. 9
out of 20 participants are categorized as heavy smokers. They are the ones who can
consume 10 sticks up to 1 pack of cigarette.
Effects of Smoking
In this study, we aimed to find out the effects of smoking to the participants.
Most especially to their health, behavior, and academic performance. Knowing the
evident effects of smoking the students can be a great help in persuading students to
avoid and quit smoking. We asked 20 participants if smoking affects them. Majority of
them had perceived effects especially on health. 9 of them said that smoking doesn’t
affect them at all especially in terms of their health, behavior and academic
performance. However, 7 of them are actually aware that smoking can affect them in
the future and they stated about the possible health effects due to long-term smoking.
Participant 16:
“Madami hmm, ano sa lungs yung nicotine ito yung substance na
nakaksira sa ating katawan. Wala naman. Hindi, ikewise.”
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Participant 17:
“Meron kasi masama sa lungs maaring mag ka lung cancer. Wala , wala
naman.
Participant 18:
“Uhm meron bad effects, cancer. Wala naman. Wala.
Participant 1:
“Meron tulad ng sakit sa baga. Wala naman. Hindi naman po”
On the other hand, 11 of the participants said that smoking already has an effect
on them. 5 of them said that smoking doesn’t affect their behavior and academic
performance. Nevertheless, they said that because of smoking, they experience coughs,
dizziness, fatigue and shortness of breath too easily when doing strenuous activities
unlike before.
Participant 9:
“Meron, tulad ng mabilis mapagod. Wala. Hindi
Participant 11:
“Meron kasi madaling mapagod,at minsan parang nauubusan ng hininga.
Wala naman. Hindi”
Participant 5:
“These past few weeks yung ubo hindi nawawala. Wala. Wala”
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4 of the participants stated that smoking affects their health, behavior and
academic performance. 2 of them explained how it affects their behavior. They said that
they are more irritable now compared before when they are not yet smoking. One also
said that it affects his behavior for smoking hinders him to save more money and it
makes him irresponsible in spending money.
Participant 15:
“Oo kasi maliban sa madali nako mapagod at kumbaga mabilis na uminit
ulo ko at mapikon. Mabilis ako mapikon kahit konting biro lng. Wala naman kasi
nababalance ko naman.”
Participant 13:
“Oo dahil mabilis ng mapagod at nahihilo rin ako. Di na ko
nakakapagtipid. Hindi naman kasi matataas naman grades ko.”
Participant 12:
“Meron kasi kapag nasosobrahan sa paninigarilyo. Meron kasi di na ko
nakakapag tipid. Wala naman”
2 of them also mentioned that because of smoking and wanting to smoke, they
cut classes and neglect their schedule in school.
Participant 14:
“Oo naman kasi madali nako mapagod at mahina. Hindi naman mas
lalong nag improve sa friends. Hindi naman. cutting lang.”
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Participant 8:
“Easily get tired. No. Yah, hindi na pumapasok at lumalabas sa klase para
lang magyosi”
One of the participants said that he knows that smoking can affect him and but
he chose to disregard these effects and not mind it at all.
Participant 6:
“Meron pero hindi ko nalang yun iniintindi. Wala. Wala”
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CHAPTER IV
SUMMARY, FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
This chapter contains the summary of the study, the findings and conclusions
based on the result and recommendations. Through the said findings, we may be able
to conclude and recommend different activities that can help students to avoid and quit
smoking.
Summary
This study is entitled “The Perception of Grade 11 STEM Students of University of
Saint Anthony on Smoking” which aims to know and evaluate the different perceptions
of grade 11 students under STEM strand of USANT through twenty random grade 11
STEM students who smoke. Specifically, it sought to answer the following questions:
1. What is the personal profile of the participants in terms of:
a) age
b) hobbies and interests
c) health status
2. What is their perspective about smoking?
3. Why do they smoke?
4. What is their knowledge on its effect?
5. What are the programs and activities that can help and persuade students to
stop smoking?
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Assumptions of the Study
This study was premised on the following assumptions that: (1) the personal
profile of the participants have a specific relation to smoking (2) The participant’s
perspective about smoking varies (3) Students engage in smoking due to the following
reasons: it serves as their stress reliever, peer pressure and influence, parental
influence, environmental factors (4) the participants have little or no knowledge about
the effects of smoking in terms of their health, behavior and academic performance (5)
yes, they considered quitting from smoking because of their parent’s prohibition (6)
counseling and support from the parents, school and guidance counseling can be done
to persuade students to undergo smoking cessation, and advocay campaigns,
symposium and seminars about the cause and effect of smoking to students.
The researchers were able to gather data by conducting interview in order to
find out the perception on smoking of Grade 11 STEM students.
Findings
The findings derived from the study are as follows:
1. In terms of the personal profile of the students, 19 out of 20 respondents are
still minors. Only 5 out of 20 participants have active hobbies, 4 are interested in
playing computer games and using social media, 4 have both active and
recreational hobbies, 3 are interested in performing arts, 2 are in hanging out
and the remaining 2 likes drawing and sleeping respectively. Moreover, almost all
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of them said they have a good health status at the moment although some are
aware that they have a medical condition such as asthma.
2. The students had different perceptions about smoking. Most of them are aware
of the negative health effects specifically the effects that can be obtained due to
long-term smoking. Some stated words pertaining to what they feel towards
smoking such as scary and exciting. Some even described smoking based on
what they see which is cigarette and smoke.
3. One of the major findings of this research are the factors why students smoke.
The following are the factors or reasons that were stated by the participants as
to why they smoke.
a. The students started smoking due to peer influence. They said that
they’ve first tried smoking because of their friends. One even said that he
was insecure of his smoker-friends that is why he tried smoking as well.
b. Few said that it was because of curiosity, given that these participants
were still young when they first started smoking.
c. Students often smoke during or after mealtime for it serves as their
dessert. They said that smoking cigarettes are the best after a meal.
They also like to smoke every time that they hang out with friends.
d. Smoking gives them pleasure and it helps them relax.
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e. Smoking is caused by the students’ problems about their family and
school issues and the stress that their environment gives them.
4. This study’s findings pertaining to the effects of smoking to the student’s health,
behavior and academic performance are as follows:
a. Majority of them thinks that smoking doesn’t affect them at all.
b. Students are aware of the different health effects that smoking can cause
them. They are even expecting that smoking can affect them, especially
their health, sooner or later.
c. Smoking has an effect on a student’s health for it can cause dizziness,
coughs, fatigue, and shortness of breath.
d. Smoking has an effect on a student’s behavior for it affects them on how
they spend their money. Students also think that it makes them more
irritable than the usual.
e. Smoking can affect a student’s academic performance for it makes them
cut or skip classes just to smoke.
5. In this study, it was found out that peer influence and stress caused by family
and school problems are big factors as to why a student smokes. It was also
discovered that smoking affects their health, behavior and academic
performance.
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Conclusions
Based on the findings derived from this study, the following conclusions were drawn:
1. Smoking among minors is evident nowadays. Moreover, their hobbies and
interests are not related as to why they started smoking. Their health status
doesn’t hinder them in doing the said activity, which is smoking.
2. The students have different perspectives on smoking. Moreover, their
perspectives focused on it’s effects, mainly on their health.
3. Peer influence and problems caused by a student’s family and school can be
great contributors as to why a student smokes. Furthermore, we’ve concluded
that parental influence is not a factor why students smoke.
4. Students are aware of the possible effects that smoking may cause them in the
near future. They are also aware that it affects their health, behavior and
academic performance.
Recommendations
1. Teachers and the school administrators should intensify providing knowledge and
understanding of the further effects of smoking, especially about the effects,
which can be evident, even in a short span of time of smoking.
2. Parents/Guardians should provide enough guidance to their children as they
grow older in order not to engage to such bad habit, which is one, caused by
stress and problems at home and guide their children in choosing friends that
will not bring bad influences. Furthermore, the school must implement rules that
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pertain to this issue. Stores who sell cigarettes to minors must also be
prohibited.
3. Schools must give more and improve outdoor activities especially sports so that
students’ attention would focus more on school activities and get distracted from
bad influences. They must also conduct symposiums or seminars with regards to
the causes and effects of smoking.
4. The school can conduct a symposium in relation to proper coping mechanisms to
stress and implement school rules with regards to smoking near the school
campus.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Apelberg, B. (2007). MHS Institute for Global Tobacco Control. Johns Hopkins
Bloomberg School of Public Health.
2. Rogers, K.D. and Reese, G. (1964). Smoking And High School
Performance: Relationship of Cigarette Smoking to Academic Performance, Absence
From School, And Visits to The School Nurse.
3. Ma, G.X. et al. 2005. Tobacco use, Secondhand Smoke Exposure And Their Related
Knowledge, Attitudes And Behaviors Among Asian Americans: Addictive Behaviors, 30,
pp. 725–740.
4. Fine, G.A.(1972). The Psychology of cigarette advertising: Professional puffery:
Journal of Popular Culture, 6, pp. 513-522.
52
Iriga City
5. World Health Organization (2009a). Global Adult Tobacco Survey: Philippines
6. Stretcher,V. and Rosentock I.M.(1997). The Health Belief Model. InK. Glanz,
F.M.Lewis, and B.KRimer (Eds). Health Behavior and Health Education:Theory,Research
and Practice (2nded). San Francisco:Jossey Bass.
7. Greenhalgh, EM., Stillman, S., and Ford, C. 7.3 Theories about smoking and quitting.
In Scollo, MM and Winstanley, MH [editors]. Tobacco in Australia: Facts and issues.
Melbourne: Cancer Council Victoria; 2016.
9. Aguillon, J. M. and Romano, P. B. 2012. “SmokeCheck: A Study on the Effects of NCR
Male High School Students’ Exposure to and Recall of Anti-Smoking Advertisements to
Their Perceptions of and Attitudes toward Smoking.” U.P. Diliman.
10. Song, A. V., Morrell, H. E., Cornell, J. L., Ramos, M. E., Biehl, M., Kropp, R. Y., &
Halpern-Felsher, B. L. (2008). Perceptions of Smoking-Related Risks and Benefits as
Predictors of Adolescent Smoking Initiation, American Journal of Public Health, 99(3),
487-92.
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54

The Problem: University of Saint Anthony

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UNIVERSITY OF SAINT ANTHONY

(Dr. Santiago G. Ortega Memorial)

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

rampant nowadays. According to the RA 9211, it is unlawful to sell or distribute tobacco

behavior inside the classroom as well as his academic performance.

inhaled. According to Apelberg (2007), direct and indirect exposures to cigarette

Nowadays, students of minor age engage into cigarette smoking. Smoking

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

of cardiovascular, pulmonary and other tobacco-related diseases.

pleasure. While the non-smokers focused more on it’s negative effects.

on why they still keep on smoking.

According to Hammond (2008), occasional smokers, those who do not smoke

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

Social Cognitive Theory, Trans-theoretical Model and Physiological Models of Addiction.

psychologist Irwin M. Rosenstock, is a psychological model that focuses on the

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

(Rosenstock, 1974). The health belief model (HBM) is based on expectancy–value

engagement (or lack of engagement) in health-promoting behavior can be predicted by

condition), perceived threat (feelings concerning the seriousness of contracting an

an individual’s perceptions regarding: susceptibility to tobacco-related diseases; costs,

benefits, and barriers to engaging in smoking or quitting behaviors; and triggers to

differences in knowledge, perceived susceptibility, benefits, self-efficacy, and cues to

predicting smoking behaviors. Among a sample of Chinese college students, greater

perceived benefits of smoking and higher perceived costs of non-smoking were

smoking. (Greenhalgh et. al., 2016)

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

Social Cognitive Theory. Social cognitive theory, an extension of social

instruction, or modeling. It expands on behaviorism by explaining behavior as a product

of reciprocal interactions between cognitive, behaviorism, and environmental influences.

An important tenet of social cognitive theory is self-efficacy, or the belief or expectation

posits that self-efficacy is fundamental to any behaviour change. A number of studies

have shown a positive relationship between self-efficacy and changes in smoking

other to maintain problem behaviors. Cognitive behavioral approaches to smoking

established with smoking.Behavioral strategies target the pleasurable associations and

perceive that it helps with coping)

The Trans-theoretical Model. The transtheoretical model (TTM) posits that

successful behaviour change involves a sequence of steps: precontemplation (not even

thinking about changing), contemplation (thinking about changing), preparation

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

changes in a range of health behaviours, including smoking cessation.

thinking about quitting (pre-contemplation), to seriously considering quitting at some

so (preparation), to quitting (action), to staying quit (maintenance). People may not

importance of self-efficacy. A number of researchers have proposed alternatives to the

interested, open to the possibility, and actively planning. Post-quitting, there is no

consensus on which categories, if any, would be appropriate. However, there is some

less common (Greenhalgh et. al., 2016).

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

Likehood Action Individual Perceptions Modifying Factors

AGE, SEX, ETHNICITY

Figure 1. Health Belief Model

Figure 2. Social Cognitive Theory

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

Figure 3. Transtheoretical Model

Health Belief Social Cognitive

Figure 4. The Perception of Grade 11 Stem Students of USANT on Smoking

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

The conceptual paradigm is presented in Figure 5 serves as the research guide of

three important elements: Input, Process and Output.

them stop smoking.

conclusions and recommendations of the study.

of Grade 11 STEM Students of University of Saint Anthony on Smoking is now the

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT