Parent voices guide smoking intervention development
Document Type
Journal Article
Publisher
Emerald Group Publishing Ltd
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences / Child Health Promotion and Research Centre
RAS ID
19475
Abstract
Purpose - While parents' influence on their children's smoking behaviour is widely recognised, little is known about parents of four to eight year olds' attitudes and beliefs around smoking cessation and how they communicate with their children about smoking. The purpose of this paper is to explore parents' perceptions of quitting smoking and their beliefs and actions related to the use of parenting practices to discourage smoking by their children. Design/methodology/approach - Four focus groups and 17 interviews were conducted with parents (n = 46) of four to eight year old children in Perth, Western Australia. Findings - Many parents indicated their children strongly influenced their quitting behaviours, however, some resented being made to feel guilty about their smoking because of their children. Parents were divided in their beliefs about the amount of influence they had on their children's future smoking. Feelings of hypocrisy appear to influence the extent to which parents who smoked talked with their child about smoking. Parents recommended a variety of resource options to support quitting and talking with their child about smoking. Practical implications - Interventions aimed at parents who smoke and have young children should: reinforce parents' importance as role models; highlight the importance of talking to children about smoking when they are young and provide strategies for maintaining ongoing communication; be supportive and avoid making parents feel guilty; and emphasise that quitting smoking is the best option for their child's health (and their own), while also providing effective harm minimisation options for parents who have not yet quit.
DOI
10.1108/HE-03-2014-0024
Access Rights
subscription content
Comments
Johnston, R., Hearn, L., Cross, D., Thomas, L.T., Bell, S. (2015). Parent voices guide smoking intervention development in Health Education, 115(5), 455-469. Available here.