Ecological Exploration of Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Tobacco and E-Cigarettes Among Primary School Children, Teachers, and Parents in Wales: A Qualitative Study. (August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brown, Rachel; Van Godwin, Jordan; Copeland, Lauren; Hallingberg, Britt; Angel, Lianna; MacDonald, Sarah; Segrott, Jeremy; Moore, Graham
• Is Part Of: Tobacco use insights. Volume 13(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-08
• Subjects: Children -- e-cigarettes -- tobacco -- schools -- parents -- qualitative; Nicotine -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Nicotine addiction -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Tobacco -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Tobacco use -- Health aspects -- Periodicals; Tobacco use -- Periodicals; Tobacco Use; Tobacco Use Disorder -- therapy; Nicotine addiction -- Treatment; Nicotine -- Physiological effect; Tobacco -- Physiological effect; Tobacco use; Tobacco use -- Health aspects; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Fulltext; Internet Resources; Periodicals; Periodicals; 616.865
• DOI: 10.1177/1179173X20938770
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1179-173X

Abstract

Experimentation with e-cigarettes has grown rapidly among UK adolescents. To date, this topic has been primarily researched in secondary schools, with less understanding of development of attitudes and behaviours at an earlier age. This research reports qualitative data from interviews with pupils, parents, and teachers at 4 case study schools in Wales (N = 42). It draws on Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory to consider how the intersection of systems surrounding primary school-age children and their interaction with these systems, shape knowledge, and attitudes towards e-cigarettes and tobacco. Findings indicate that consistent messaging on smoking from school and family was reflected in strong disapproval among pupils and clear understanding of harms. This was less evident for e-cigarettes, where messages were mixed and inconsistent between home and school, with concerns over what to tell children about e-cigarettes in light of mixed messages and absence of official guidance. Implications of findings for policy and teaching are discussed.