Health beliefs: A comparison between young adult smokers and nonsmokers

This descriptive comparative research study described the perceived susceptibility and seriousness of smoking-related diseases in young adults. In addition, the perceived benefits and barriers of young adults to quitting smoking were described. This study's framework was based on Rosenstock's Health Belief Model. A random sample of 264 students, ages 18-35, from a Southeastern university completed a 39-item questionnaire on the knowledge of the effects of smoking, perceived susceptibility and seriousness of smoking-related diseases, as well as the benefits and barriers to quitting smoking. There were significant differences between the smokers' and nonsmokers' responses in the following areas: knowledge of the effects of smoking, perceived seriousness of smoking-related diseases, as well as the benefits and barriers to quitting smoking. Smokers did not believe that smoking was as harmful as the nonsmokers believed it was. In the area of perceived susceptibility smokers and nonsmokers scored relatively similar scores.