Perceptions of health risk and smoking decisions of young people

S.D. Gerking, R. Khaddaria

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

30 Citations (Scopus)
649 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Using the Annenberg Perception of Tobacco Risk Survey 2, this paper finds that perceived risk deters smoking among persons aged 14–22 years who think that it is relatively difficult to quit smoking and that onset of deleterious health effects occurs relatively quickly. Perceived health risk, however, does not affect the smoking status of young people who hold the opposite beliefs. These results are consistent with predictions of rational addiction models and suggest that young people, who view smoking as more addictive and health effects as more immediate, may have greater incentive to consider long‐term health effects in their decision to smoke.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)865-877
JournalHealth Economics
Volume21
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2012

Keywords

  • cigarette smoking
  • perceived risk of lung cancer mortality
  • difficulty in quitting smoking
  • immediacy of health effects

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