Personal Factors Influencing Korean American Men's Smoking Behavior: Addiction, Health, and Age

• Published in: Archives of psychiatric nursing Vol. 19; no. 1; pp. 35 - 41
• Main Authors: Kim, Sun Seog, Son, Haein, Nam, Kyoung A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.02.2005
• Subjects: Acculturation; Adult; Asian Americans - education; Asian Americans - ethnology; Attitude to Health - ethnology; Behavior, Addictive - ethnology; Focus Groups; Habits; Health Behavior - ethnology; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Services Needs and Demand; Humans; Korea - ethnology; Male; Middle Aged; New York City; Nursing; Nursing Methodology Research; Patient Education as Topic; Qualitative Research; Smoking - ethnology; Smoking Cessation - ethnology; Smoking Cessation - methods; Smoking Prevention
• ISSN: 0883-9417; 1532-8228
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apnu.2004.11.005

The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify factors influencing Korean American men's smoking behavior. Focus-group research method was used, and participants were 22 Korean male smokers in New York City. They talked about their experiences of smoking and smoking cessation. Addiction, health, and age emerged as major personal factors affecting Korean men's smoking behavior. Their experiences in relation to addiction were similar to those reported in other racial/ethnic groups, whereas the dramatic change in the perception of smoking-related health risks coming with their forties, some cessation strategies used by former smokers, and preference for group meetings over individual counseling appeared to be specific to Korean men.