Adolescents’ anti-smoking perceptions research subject

ALPINE Researching adolescent response to anti-smoking campaigns has served a several purposes for Sul Ross State University student Nitra Woods of Andrews.

Woods gained insight on targeted age groups, as well as what age groups may need to be addressed. In addition, her work will better prepare her for graduate school projects. She is one of more than 20 Sul Ross undergraduates participating in the McNair Scholars Program Summer Research Institute.

"I have looked up articles in different journals to see if there was any effect on adolescents and how they perceive smoking," said Woods, who will graduate in August with a bachelor's degree in communication.

"How does family and peer pressure affect children's decisions? I also wanted to see if role models like Lindsay Lohan or Brittany Spears doing public service announcements (PSAs) will affect an adolescent."

The result?

"While these methods are a very positive way to get kids not to smoke, there are no conclusions, just so much information," Woods said. Subsequently, with the help of her McNair Program adviser, Esther Rumsey, Woods narrowed her scope.

"Nitra is doing a literary review that would lead to a research proposal," said Rumsey, associate professor of Communication and chair of the Fine Arts and Communication Department. "This in itself is fairly time-consuming, and anti-smoking campaigns are a fairly broad topic.
"Consequently, she narrowed her focus to children, then to African American children."

Woods, who is considering pursuing a master's degree in the health communication field, is interested in conducting her own research as well.

"I really want to do my own testing if time will allow," she said.

"I would like to survey some eight-to-12-year-olds and ask them questions about how they feel about smoking: Is it wrong? Have parents or friends influenced you? Later, I would show these children a video clip on the effects of smoking to see if their answers changed."

Woods' reviews thus far have discovered that most children start smoking at the age of 18, but African Americans have the lowest smoking rate in the 15-18 age group.

However, African American males in the 18-24 age group have the highest smoking rate.

Why this group chooses to start smoking later is one of the points Woods seeks to address in future research.

"Anti-smoking ads are different for 14-year-olds than 18-year-olds," Rumsey said.

"There is a need to review the ads that target later ages, see what's there and what needs to be addressed."

Rumsey praised both Woods' project and the McNair Program.

"Nitra chose this project because students working toward a master's degree in health communication can typically do two to three literary reviews per semester. This helps them learn to read and assess the material, how to pull it together for a cohesive review and how to use the American Psychological Association (APA) format."

"I think this is a good program," Rumsey said. "Knowing how to access literary material is a must for success in graduate school."

The McNair Program, named after African American astronaut Ronald E. McNair, who perished during the 1986 launch of the space shuttle Challenger, is designed to assist low income, first generation, and/or under represented students earn doctoral degrees.

The program assists students to prepare for and pass the GRE, LSAT, and MCAT tests, as well as apply for doctoral programs at other institutions.

The McNair Program also sponsors travel to graduate fairs and symposiums, along with periodic workshops on how to find and secure graduate funding for involved students.

Each student receives free tuition, room and board, and a stipend for summer research. Each student is mentored by a faculty member appointed depending on field of choice. Recipients will receive three hours of college credit, and will engage in an intense research project in their field of interest.

For more information about the McNair Program, contact Mary Bennett, McNair Program director,  432-837-8478 or mbennett@sulross.edu.