This study evaluated the perceptions of Nigerian university students concerning the influence of cigarette advertisement on their smoking habit. It also assessed the influences of smokers’ age and significant others on their smoking habits. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and focus group discussion (FGD) technique from 566 smokers (503 males and 63 females) selected from among students of six universities in south- western Nigeria. Information obtained from the FGD was analysed qualitatively and presented in this study. Specifically, responses from the FGD was analysed based on the following: History of student’s smoking habit, perceived smoking benefits, health hazards of smoking, advertisement and smoking, roles of families, friends and peers in preventing or promoting smoking habit and attitudes of smokers towards anti-smoking regulations in the country. The study concluded that cigarette advertisement had substantial influence on smoking habit among students in the Nigerian universities. Implications of the findings for designing smoking intervention programmes targeted at the youth are discussed.

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the perceptions of Nigerian university students concerning the influence of cigarette advertisement on their smoking habit. It also assessed the influences of smokers’ age and significant others on their smoking habits. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and focus group discussion (FGD) technique from 566 smokers (503 males and 63 females) selected from among students of six universities in south- western Nigeria. Information obtained from the FGD was analysed qualitatively and presented in this study. Specifically, responses from the FGD was analysed based on the following: History of student’s smoking habit, perceived smoking benefits, health hazards of smoking, advertisement and smoking, roles of families, friends and peers in preventing or promoting smoking habit and attitudes of smokers towards anti-smoking regulations in the country. The study concluded that cigarette advertisement had substantial influence on smoking habit among students in the Nigerian universities. Implications of the findings for designing smoking intervention programmes targeted at the youth are discussed.

Thesis (M.A.)--Central Connecticut State University, 1999. / Thesis advisor: Carol Shaw Austad. " ... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts [in Psychology]." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 17-18).

Thesis (Psy. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, Santa Cruz, 1984. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 105-113).

Summary of Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Illinois, 1936. / Vita. "Publications": p. [6].

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1966. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.) -- University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2006. / Title from title page screen (viewed on June 1, 2006). Thesis advisor: June Gorski. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (B.Psy.Sc.(Hons.)) - University of Queensland, 2006. / Includes bibliography.

Les messages d’avertissement apposés sur les paquets de cigarettes (warnings), sont un élément central des dispositifs de prévention des risques du tabac. Adossé aux recherches en psychologie sociale et cognitive sur les effets de familiarité et de répétition, notre programme de recherche vise à comprendre les processus impliqués dans l’exposition aux warnings selon la dépendance au tabac (fumeurs vs. fumeurs non dépendants vs. fumeurs dépendants). Huit études expérimentales ont été conduites (N = 1 305). L’hypothèse de fluence hédonique, selon laquelle l’exposition répétée de la forme du warning serait paradoxalement associée à des affects positifs, a été rejetée. Lorsque l’exposition implique le contenu sémantique du warning, présenté seul ou dans le contexte d’une tâche de préférence pour des paquets de cigarette, les résultats suggèrent une augmentation de l’adhésion au message et de la crédibilité perçue (effet de vérité). Les bénéfices de l’exposition répétée sont retrouvés sur les indicateurs à la fois quantitatifs et qualitatifs de traitement de l’information. Enfin, les résultats soulignent l’importance de considérer la dépendance au tabac dans la réception des warnings. La discussion met l’accent sur l’intérêt d’une approche en santé publique basée non seulement sur l’efficacité des interventions mais aussi sur les processus impliqués. / Warning messages affixed to cigarette packages are central features of tobacco hazard prevention. With a focus on social psychological and cognitive effects of familiarity and repetition, the research program aims to understand the processes involved in exposure to warnings as a function of tobacco addiction (non smokers vs. light smokers vs. heavy smokers). Eight experimental studies were conducted (N = 1 305). The hedonic hypothesis was rejected: repeated exposure to the form of warning was not paradoxically associated with positive affect. When the exposure involves the semantic content of the warning, presented alone or in the context of a preference task for cigarettes’ packets, the results suggest more adherence to the message and more perceived credibility (truth effect). The benefits of repeated exposure are found on both quantitative and qualitative information processing. Finally, the results highlight the importance of considering the dependence on tobacco in the receipt of warnings. The discussion focuses on the interests of public health approaches based not only on the effectiveness of interventions but also on the processes involved.