Religiosity is Associated with Motivation to Start and Stop Smoking Among Adolescent Students in Brazil

This study aimed to estimate associations between adolescents ’ religiosity and their motivation to start and stop smoking. A school survey was carried out in Midwestern Brazil. Participants were never-smokers (n = 2073) and smokers (n = 116) aged 13–19 who answered a questionnaire. Religiosity was measured with the Duke Religion Index, and motivation with questions based on the Prime Theory of Motivation. Organizational, non-organizational, and intrinsic religiosity were associated with motivation to start smoking among ne ver-smokers. Intrinsic religiosity was associated with smokers’ motivation to quit. Findings indicate the protective role of religiosity in the motivational system that prompts smoking initiation and cessation during adolescence.
Source: Journal of Religion and Health - Category: Medical Ethics Source Type: research