Smoking--Health aspects

The aim of this study was to investigate the current level of awareness and use of the Great American Smokeout (GASO) and the extent to which that may vary by lifetime smoking, socioeconomic status, age and gender. We hypothesized and found that the current levels of awareness and use were significantly less than the most recent reports available (over 13 years ago), and that awareness of the GASO was more likely in lifetime smokers, those with more education, and older age groups, but found no significant effect related to gender. The drop in awareness and use of the GASO was more than half and almost five times, respectively, compared to that of most recent previous reports. These findings highlight a critical need for more attention and resources to reinvigorate the GASO as a useful event for smokers.

The behavior of smoking is one of the most important social and public health issues today. This thesis focuses on the smoker in a south Florida bar district. Through the analysis of forty interviews and one hundred surveys, I uncovered why individuals smoke and how they rationalize the behavior in spite of known health risks. The four emerging themes as to why individuals smoke were for the creation of self-image, pleasure and relaxation, reinforce social relations and mood maintenance. The two themes regarding the rationalization behind the behavior were "it's better than other vices" argument and the "life is dangerous" argument. Individuals know that smoking is a health risk; however, the way in which individuals rationalize the behavior allows them to continue the behavior.