Research Article
A Protection Motivation Theory-Based Scale for Tobacco Research among Chinese Youth
Karen MacDonell*, Xinguang Chen, Yaqiong Yan, Fang Li, Jie Gong, Huiling Sun, Xiaoming Li and Bonita StantonDepartment of Pediatrics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
- *Corresponding Author:
- Karen MacDonell
Department of Pediatrics
Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
Tel: 313-577-6996
Fax: 313-745-4993
E-mail: kkolmodin@med.wayne.edu
Received date: June 12, 2013; Accepted date: July 02, 2013; Published date: July 08, 2013
Citation: MacDonell K, Chen X, Yan Y, Li F, Gong J, et al. (2013) A Protection Motivation Theory-Based Scale for Tobacco Research among Chinese Youth. J Addict Res Ther 4:154. doi:10.4172/2155-6105.1000154
Copyright: © 2013 MacDonell K, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Abstract
Rates of tobacco use among adolescents in China and other lower and middle-income countries remain high despite notable prevention and intervention programs. One reason for this may be the lack of theory-based research in tobacco use prevention in these countries. In the current study, a culturally appropriate 21-item measurement scale for cigarette smoking was developed based on the core constructs of Protection Motivation Theory (PMT). The scale was assessed among a sample of 553 Chinese vocational high school students. Results from correlational and measurement modeling analysis indicated adequate measurement reliability for the proposed PMT scale structure. The two PMT Pathways and the seven PMT constructs were significantly correlated with adolescent intention to smoke and actual smoking behavior. This study is the first to evaluate a PMT scale for cigarette smoking among Chinese adolescents. The scale provides a potential tool for assessing social cognitive processes underlying tobacco use. This is essential for understanding smoking behavior among Chinese youth and support more effective tobacco use prevention efforts. Additional studies are needed to assess its utility for use with Chinese youth in other settings.
