University of Twente Student Theses
The influence and change in smoking ban acceptance amongst university employees
Maas, A. (2021) The influence and change in smoking ban acceptance amongst university employees.
|
PDF
442kB |
| Abstract: | Background. Despite the decrease in smoking prevalence, diseases related to tobacco use are still leading causes of morbidity and death. A smoke-free campus is associated with a decrease in smoking rates and helps smokers quit which is evidenced by less favourable attitudes towards smoking amongst campus community members, such as employees. Stressing the importance of smoking ban acceptability amongst campus community members, this study examined the change in smoking acceptance among employees at the University of Twente over time. Moreover, the current level of smoking ban acceptability was assessed. To understand smoking ban acceptance better, predictors such as deterrence and habit were investigated. Furthermore, due to the importance of ban enforcement, the predictors were examined to enable policymaking for the University of Twente. Method. This study includes a cross-sectional survey and a longitudinal observational study. The cross-sectional survey measured the acceptance of change over time, while the longitudinal observational study included more aims. At first, the study measured the current level of smoking ban acceptance amongst employees. Second, to assess smoking ban acceptance, this study included an explorative research with deterrence and habit as predictors of smoking ban acceptance. Next, to enable policymaking, different predictors of enforcement intention were tested, namely self-efficacy, outcome expectancies, responsibility, attitude, and habit. Results and Discussion. The study found that although the overall level of employees’ acceptance of the smoking ban did not change over the past two years, it was moderately high amongst the sample. However, due to COVID-19, employees were less exposed to the smoking ban, which could explain the lack of change over time. Nonetheless, it was argued that the smokers were underrepresented in the sample, making the measured level of acceptance invalid concerning the whole campus population. The explorative research showed that smoking ban acceptance is influence by a deterrent effect with the absence of smoking status as a moderator. Smoking status has shown a strong predictor of smoking ban acceptance due to its great influence on cognitions, which might exceed the effect of deterrence on smoking ban acceptance. Additionally, the study revealed that the presence of a high level of self-efficacy and a positive attitude greatly influenced the enforcement of the ban. It was, therefore, advised to create policies focusing on deterrence, self-efficacy, and positive attitudes. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Bachelor) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 77 psychology |
| Programme: | Psychology BSc (56604) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/87424 |
| Export this item as: | BibTeX EndNote HTML Citation Reference Manager |
Show download statistics for this publication
Show download statistics for this publicationRepository Staff Only: item control page