Exploring Korean American Young Adults’ Smoking Behavior Regarding Social Influences and Smoking Attitude

This study explored Korean American male and female young adults’ smoking behavior process in relation to social influences and smoking attitudes within their cultural context. This exploratory, qualitative study employed a cross-sectional design and relied on grounded theory methodology. It resulted in the development of a middle-range theory to describe Korean American young adult smoking behaviors in relation to social influences and smoking attitudes. Data were obtained by in-depth interview from 15 participants (7 males and 8 females). First, as quantitative data, an overview of the participants demographic results and acculturation-related findings were provided. As qualitative data, four research questions were answered. In the first research question, participants described their smoking behaviors with 12 themes. For the second research question, various social influences related to smoking behavior process were identified. Through the third research question, smoking attitudes, from smoking initiation, to reinforcement, to cessation, were described. By integrating research questions one through three, the fourth research question was answered. Lastly, participants provided suggestion regarding smoking prevention and cessation programs for Korean American young adults. The study’s findings were discussed from the perspective of social work theory, practice, research, education, and policy.