A Qualitative Study of Smoking Behavior among Female Soldiers in Taiwan

• Main Authors: Yang Chung-ying, 楊忠穎
• Other Authors: Kao Sen yeong
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2015
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/49144487350750378337

碩士 === 國防醫學院 === 公共衛生學研究所 === 103 === With the military actively recruiting female soldiers, female soldiers with the habit of smoking have emerged as a significant demographic within the armed forces. It was found that rate of tobacco use in the female soldiers have been higher than in the general female population. As females with the habit of smoking have often cultivated the habit due to complex psychological issues, the study has sought to explore the deeper meaning of smoking behavior through a qualitative research on the female soldiers. The study examined perceptions on the meaning of smoking behavior among female soldiers (n=12) from all five branches of the military using semi-structured interviews, which has been constructed based on the health belief model framework. The data gathered from the interviews revealed that the subjects have made comprehensive assessment of all the positive and negative factors prior to cultivating the habit of smoking. Apparently the subjects were aware that smoking affects health but believed that smoking helps to relief job stress and improve their relationship in the military. And as such, they are less inclined to quit smoking. The subjects also reported that counseling services on quitting smoking available in the military to be inadequate at best. The study proposes that the military should strengthen tobacco prevention by emphasizing the harmful effects on health (i.e. their physical appearance, pregnancy, lung capacity) and the action cues (i.e. the existing tobacco control programs, selection of female counselors). Future research could focus on enhancing female soldiers’ awareness of the actual impact of tobacco on women’s health and developing more effective prevention policies. Keywords: Female Soldier, Health Belief Model, Qualitative Research