ISSN 2736-1721
Global Journal of Business Management ISSN 6731-4538 Vol. 4 (4), pp. 001-010, April, 2010. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Elucidating smoking behavior in developed and developing countries
Hwai-Hui Fu
Department of Business Administration, Shu-Te University, 50, Hun Shan Road, Yen Chau, Kaohsiung County, 824, Taiwan. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: +886-7- 6158000 ext 3118. Fax: +886-7- -5316284.
Accepted 12 January, 2010
Abstract
Trade liberalization and the pervasive advertising of cigarettes have seriously endangered global health. The World Health Organization estimates that smoking causes 4,020,000 deaths annually. Although decreasing in developed countries, tobacco consumption is continually increasing in developing countries. Therefore, this study considers how smoking behavior models of developing and developed countries differ from each other. Concrete strategies are also proposed to control smoking. Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behavior is adopted as the research framework, comprising five dimensions: attitudinal belief, normative belief, control belief, behavior intention and behavior. The research subject includes the standard of living and the advancement of technique to define two groups, that is, developed county (the United States and Japan) and developing county (China and Taiwan). Five hundred questionnaires are distributed and then analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM), to explore how the variables affect smoking behaviors. Results of this study provide a valuable reference for devising strategies to discourage smoking.
Key words: Smoking behavior, theory of planned behavior, structural equation modeling.