Study Explores Trajectory of Smoking Behavior Change among Chinese Immigrant Smokers in the U.S.

The incidence and mortality rates of smoking-associated lung cancer are high among Chinese immigrant smokers. Coming from a country with different smoking policies, culture, and economic background than the U.S., Chinese smokers may change their smoking behaviors after immigrating to the U.S. A recently published study explored the trajectory of smoking behavior change among Chinese immigrant smokers migrating to the U.S. Semi-structured intensive individual interviews were conducted among 10 eligible participants.

Results showed the trajectory of smoking behavior change among Chinese immigrant smokers went through three phases: 1) Beginning to smoke, which included learning to smoke from others, trying to smoke and learning to smoke, and hiding their smoking behaviors from others; 2) maintaining smoking, which included setting boundary around smoking, smoking as a facilitator or barrier to social interaction, feeling pressures related to smoking behavior, and making others happy: Collective smoking and controlling smoking desire; and 3) changing smoking behaviors, which included experiencing life events that were triggers to changing smoking behavior, boredom as a reason for relapses, personal will as a key to quitting smoking, and quitting smoking for a loved one. Although some differences existed between male and female Chinese immigrant smokers’ smoking behaviors, their trajectories of smoking behavior change were generally similar.

Source: Lei et al. (2021). Trajectory of smoking behavior change among Chinese immigrant smokers. PLoS One, Feb 2;16(2):e0246280.