Tobacco induced diseases
The relationship between empathic responses to a targeted anti-smoking campaign and smoke-free intention among adolescents: A cross-sectional analysis by smoking status
By Jung AR and Lee G.
Abstract
Introduction
Anti-smoking campaigns have been widely implemented to reduce adolescent smoking. However, these campaigns have heavily relied on fear appeals that emphasize the negative consequences of smoking. This study examined an alternative strategy based on empathy in a youth-targeted anti-smoking campaign. Specifically, it aimed to investigate the relationship between adolescents' empathic responses to the campaign and their smoke-free intention, as well as the moderating role of smoking status in this relationship.
Methods
This cross-sectional study examined the association between a multidimensional continuous independent variable (empathic responses, including empathic understanding, identification, and vicarious emotional response) and a continuous dependent variable (smoke-free intention), with smoking status (never smoked, susceptible to smoking, tried smoking, repeated smoking, and habitual smoking) as a categorical moderator. An online survey was conducted in South Korea from 26 January to 18 February 2021. A total of 2000 adolescents (1019 males and 981 females) completed a structured questionnaire assessing their empathic responses to the anti-smoking campaign, smoke-free intention, and smoking status.