Tobacco harm perceptions, regulatory attitudes, and cessation intentions before and after the COVID-19 lockdown in California.

Publication date: Dec 04, 2024

The present study examined tobacco health perceptions, regulation attitudes, and cessation intentions among California adults before and after the COVID-19 lockdown, given the pandemic’s mixed impact on tobacco use. An online survey of California adults was conducted in two phases: pre-lockdown (March 2020, n = 1349) and post-lockdown (May 2020, n = 1201). Participants (M age 30. 29 years; SD = 5. 91) from both samples were predominately former or current smokers, male, and non-Hispanic White (>60% for all). This method allowed for a comparison of attitudes and behaviors across two distinct periods with two samples. There were significant differences between pre- and post-lockdown risk perceptions, regulatory attitudes, and cessation intentions. Examining shifts in perceptions and attitudes amidst the pandemic aids in understanding the complex and dynamic nature of tobacco behavior change through the lens of a major socioenvironmental event to guide future tobacco control efforts.

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Concepts Keywords
California beliefs
Hispanic cessation
March perception
Pandemic policy
Tobacco smoking
social cognitions
tobacco control
tobacco prevention

Semantics

Type Source Name
disease MESH COVID-19
disease MESH aids

Original Article

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