Previous Table: Smoking initiation situations for smokers among rural-urban migrants
|
Group |
N |
Social situation |
Negative emotion |
Positive emotion |
Solitude |
Specific activities |
|
X % (rank) |
X % (rank) |
X % (rank) |
X % (rank) |
X % (rank) |
||
|
Current smoker |
396 |
70 17.7 (4) |
75 18.9 (3) |
11 2.8 (5) |
138 34.8 (1) |
102 25.8(2) |
|
occasional |
160 |
29 18.1 (4) |
36 22.5 (2) |
4 2.5 (5) |
46 28.8 (1) |
45 28.1(3) |
|
daily |
236 |
41 17.4 (4) |
39 16.5 (3) |
7 3.0 (5) |
92 39.0 (1) |
57 24.2(2) |
Some research had suggested that social situations present the greatest risk for urban residents initiating
smoking.( Yang T et al, 2006; Chen X et al,2004). However, in the case of rural-urban migrants we found
that solitude is the primary risk factor (see table). Absence from home and familiar surroundings means
migrant workers are likely to become isolated. Inducing solitude, the threat of discrimination and a lack of
external communication makes them highly prone to smoke (Choi WS et al, 1997). Our study shows that
smoking prevalence increased among rural-urban migrant workers pursuant to their city migration (Yang
T et al, 2010). Future tobacco control intervention programs should factor in the psychological problems
which face migrant populations.
Tingzhong Yang
Director of Center for Tobacco Control Research,Zhejiang University School of Medicine
