Factors Associated with Parents’ Perceptions of Parental Smoking in the Presence of Children and Its Consequences on Children

• Main Authors: Yu-Ting Chen, Fei-Hsiu Hsiao, Nae-Fang Miao, Ping-Ling Chen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2013-01-01
• Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Subjects: parental smoking; perception; secondhand smoke; children
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/10/1/192

Parental smoking is the major source of children’s secondhand smoke exposure and is influenced by parents’ perception of children’s exposure. However, the factors associated with these perceptions remain unclear. The objective of this study was to examine factors associated with parents’ perceptions about parental smoking in the presence of children and its consequences. We conducted a cross-sectional study on parents’ perceptions of parental smoking and measured their evaluations of its consequences using a self-report questionnaire. Other variables include socio-demographic characteristics and smoking-related experience. Results show that parents’ gender, education level, occupational type, smoking status, and agreement on a home smoking ban independently predict parents’ evaluation of the consequences of parental smoking in the presence of children. Parents’ gender, education level, annual family income, smoking status, agreement on a home smoking ban, and evaluation of the consequences of parental smoking independently predicted parents’ perceptions. Findings indicated that a specific group expressed greater acceptance of parental smoking and was less aware of its risks. Motivating parents to create a smoke-free home and increasing awareness of the adverse consequences of parental smoking is beneficial in reinforcing attitudes opposed to parental smoking.