Association of Smoking Media Literacy with Vietnamese and South Korean Adolescents’ Susceptibility to Smoking

• Published in: The Journal of school nursing 2024-08, Vol.40 (4), p.391-400
• Main Authors: Shim, Sun Young, Lee, Hyeonkyeong, Kim, Sookyung, Huong, Nguyen Thi Thanh, Lee, Young-Me, Thị, Phương Lê, Loan, Bui Thi Thanh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior - psychology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Health Literacy - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Male; Mass Media - statistics & numerical data; Republic of Korea - epidemiology; Smoking - epidemiology; Southeast Asian People; Surveys and Questionnaires; Vietnam
• ISSN: 1059-8405; 1546-8364; 1546-8364
• DOI: 10.1177/10598405221112105

Studies on how smoking media literacy (SML) is associated with susceptibility to smoking among adolescents in South Korea and Vietnam are scarce. Thus, we examined the association of SML with susceptibility to smoking among adolescents in these countries to initiate a collaborative global health program. In total, 460 adolescents (Vietnam: 277, South Korea: 183) aged 15–18 completed an online cross-sectional survey. SML was measured using the 15-item SML scale. Susceptibility to smoking was measured by three questions on future smoking and if offered a cigarette by a friend. A multiple logistic regression model explored the association of SML with susceptibility to smoking. The study revealed that higher SML was significantly associated with lower susceptibility to smoking among Vietnamese, but not South Korean adolescents. Further studies to identify pathways between other factors associated with SML and susceptibility to smoking are needed to develop culture-specific intervention strategies for smoking prevention.