<p>In this dissertation, I discuss two important factors in individuals' decision-making processes: subjective expectation bias and time-inconsistent preferences. In Chapter I, I look at how individuals' own subjective expectations about certain future events are different from what actually happens in the future, even after controlling for individuals' private information. This difference, which is defined as the expectation bias in this paper, is found to have important influence on individuals' choices. Specifically, I look into the relationship between US elderly's subjective longevity expectation biases and their smoking choices. I find that US elderly tend to over-emphasize the importance of their genetic makeup but underestimate the influence of their health-related choices, such as smoking, on their longevity. This finding can partially explain why even though US elderly are found to be more concerned with their health and more forward-looking than we would have concluded using a model which does not allow for subjective expectation bias, we still observe many smokers. The policy simulation further confirms that if certain public policies can be designed to correct individuals' expectation biases about the effects of their genes and health-related choices on their longevity, then the average smoking rate for the age group analyzed in this paper will go down by about 4%.</p><p>In Chapter II, my co-author, Hanming Fang, and I look at one possible explanation to the under-utilization of preventive health care in the United States: procrastination. Procrastination, the phenomenon that individuals postpone certain decisions which incur instantaneous costs but bring long-term benefits, is captured in economics by hyperbolic discount factors and the corresponding time-inconsistent preferences. This chapter extends the semi-parametric identification and estimation method for dynamic discrete choice models using Hotz and Miller's (1993) conditional choice probability approach to the setting where individuals may have hyperbolic discounting time preferences and may be naive about their time inconsistency. We implement the proposed estimation method to US adult women's decisions of undertaking mammography tests to evaluate the importance of present bias and naivety in the under-utilization of mammography, controlling for other potentially important explanatory factors such as age, race, household income, and marital status. Preliminary results show evidence for both present bias and naivety in adult women's decisions of undertaking mammography tests. Using the parameters estimated, we further conduct some policy simulations to quantify the effects of the present bias and naivety on the utilization of preventive health care in the US.</p> / Dissertation

The aim of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral smoking cessation program combined with nicotine patches in a university student sample. Moreover, changes in self-efficacy judgments of both experimental and control group participants were examined. 37 students from various departments of Middle East Technical University participated in the study. Participants in the experimental group received a 6-week group based multicomponent smoking cessation program combined with nicotine patches, whereas those in the control group were provided with self-help booklets. Point prevalence abstinence was used as the main outcome measure, which was verified by CO-measurement in exhaled air both at post-treatment and follow-ups. Separate one-way ANOVAs and repeated measures ANOVAs were used in data analysis. Results showed that there were no significant differences between the experimental and control group in terms of their degree of motivation, readiness and decision to quit smoking, nicotine dependence, depression, self-efficacy, and perceived social support at pre-treatment. Results of the repeated measures ANOVA with CO-values showed that the CO-levels of experimental groups significantly declined from pre-treatment to post-treatment and to follow-ups. Abstinence rates for the experimental group were found to be 66.67%, 55.55% and 45.44% at post-treatment, 1-month follow-up and 2-months follow-up respectively. On the other hand, abstinence rates for the control group were found to be 11.76%, 5.88% and 5.88% at post-treatment, 1-month follow-up and 2-months follow-up respectively. Moreover, it was found that self-efficacy scores of experimental group participants significantly increased at post-treatment, whereas those of control group participants significantly decreased from pre-treatment to post-treatment. The findings were discussed in the light of the relevant literature. After discussing the limitations and implications of the study, directions for future studies were suggested.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of metacognition as a mediator of the relationship between smoking dependence and depression/anxiety/ negative impact of life experiences. A sample of 202 adult smokers completed the following questionnaires: Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Life Experiences Survey (LES), Meta-Cognitions Questionnaire-30 (MCQ-30), and Fagerstr&ouml / m Test of Nicotine Dependence (FTND). The path analyses were used to test a mediation model in which depression, anxiety, or negative impact of life experiences was the predictor of metacognition, which in turn was a predictor of smoking dependence. Twelve mediation models were tested using total scores of metacognition, and its factors including positive beliefs about worry, negative beliefs about worry, lack of cognitive confidence, beliefs about need to control thoughts, and cognitive self-consciousness as mediator variables. The models included depression, anxiety, or negative impact of life experiences as independent variables / and smoking dependence as dependent variable. The results suggested that neither total metacognition score nor the individual metacognitive dimensions did mediate the relationship between smoking dependence and depression/anxiety/negative impact of life experiences. The results and limitations, as well as the implications of these findings, were discussed by referring to the relevant literature.

The aim of this study is to draw attention to the fact that daily practices which tend to be overlooked due to their taken for grantedness actually signify power coming into existence here and now as well as that everyday problems bring along accordingly ordinary coping ways. In this respect, resistance in everyday life means a refusal that does not identify itself as political and organized, and who intends to make do with the rule by finding immediate and effective solutions to negative effects power generates rather than overtly challenging it. In order to render visible this type of resistance, to understand how it is experienced and perceived, the implementation of smoking ban in enclosed areas was covered in entertainment venues. Participant observations and semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted in Nevizade Street that is located in Beyoglu district of Istanbul and consists of meyhanes as well as beerhouses. Although customers resist based on pleasure principle, managers in order not to go bankrupt and employees not to fall out of work, it is concluded that what is thwarted here is not public health that the related law aims to protect but rather the troubles that the implementation of the law brings about.

<p> </p><p>Bakgrund:</p><p>Policybeslutet att införa Rökfri arbetstid i Motala kommun är ett led i kommunernas och de fackliga organisationernas strävan att skapa en hälsofrämjande miljö. Rökfri arbetstid innebär att ingen ska utsättas för tobaksrök på sitt arbete. I Motala kommun trädde detta beslut i kraft 2007-07-01 och mottogs med olika åsikter bland de kommunanställda. Tidigare forskning har visat samband med engagemang och delaktighet i beslut med empowerment hos de anställda. Syfte: Studiens syfte är att undersöka anställdas reaktioner till Rökfri arbetstid i Motala kommun. Metod: En kvantitativ undersökning i form av fler alternativa och öppna frågor i en enkät som delades ut bland rökande personal på olika enheter i Motala kommun. Även Motala kommuns intranät Kanalen användes, där information om enkäten lades ut och de som ville kunde ta del av den. Resultat: Rökfri arbetstid ger resultat i positiv bemärkelse, de anställda som rökte röker i dag 30 % mindre på arbetstid samt 16 % har slutat. För de som var positivt inställda av deltagarna när beslutet togs visar även en minskning i sitt rökande på fritiden. Då beslutet togs 2007-07-01 var 54 % negativa till detta, i dag är siffran på 32,5 %. Resultatet visar också en stor irritation över att; deltagarna inte fått varit med och tyckt till om Rökfri arbetstid, informationen till de anställda har inte varit bra, cheferna ger inga direktiv och verkar inte veta vilka regler som gäller. I dag följs reglerna olika på olika arbetsplatser. Fortfarande finns det många av studiens deltagare som röker på arbetstid även om de har minskat sin konsumtion. Deltagarna själva vill ha klara regler för vad som gäller när någon trotsar rökförbudet. Diskussion: Mer information, mer empowerment till de anställda i Motala kommun hade gett mer positiva resultat än vi ser idag Låt de rökande få vara med och diskutera fram hur regler ska följas på arbetsplatserna samt vilket stöd de förväntar sig få från kommunen. De anställda måste också ta på sig ansvaret att leta efter information.</p><p> </p> / <p> </p><p>Background</p><p>: The policy decision to introduce non smoking environment in the city of Motala is a part of the city and the unions’ efforts to create a healthy environment. Smoke-free working hours means that no one shall be subjected to tobacco smoke at work. The city of Motala took this decision in full force 2007-07-01 and it was received with different opinions from the city’s employees. Previous research has shown the commitment and involvement is greater if the employee feels empowerment at their work place. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the employee´s reaction to the decision to introduce non smoking environment in Motala. Method: A quantitative method was used. Questionnaire which included even open-ended questions was distributed among smoking employees in different work areas in the city of Motala. The questionnaire was also laid out on "kanalen" which is a communication platform within the city of Motala. Here could any employee take part of the survey. Results: Smoke free working environment delivers results in a positive way, people smoke 30% less at work and 16% have stopped smoking completely during working hours. For those who were in favor of the decision when it was taken can also show a reduction in their smoking in their free time. When the decision was made 2007-07-01 was 54% negative to this, today the figure is 32.5%. The results also show that irritation over this decision was; the employees had not been involved when it comes to decision around this subject, information has been lousy, directors did not provide any directive for the smokers and does not seem to know clearly what the rules are. Today the rules are followed differently in different workplaces. Still, there are many participants who smoke during working hours although they may have reduced their consumption. Participants themselves would like to have clear rules on what it is that applies. Discussion: More information, more empowerment to the employees in the city of Motala had gotten more positive results than we see today. Where does the information stops? Is it between local government leaders to the directors at different workplaces or is it the director that does not provide the information to the employees. Let the smokers be involved and discuss how the rules should be followed at the workplace and what support they may expect from the city. Employees must also take responsibility to look for information.</p><p> </p>

<p>The aim of this thesis is to study the effect of smoking and drinking on wages in Sweden. The data used in this study is the Swedish Level-of-living survey (LNU) from 1991. A multinomial logit model and the marginal effects from the estimated model are used to study the effect of smoking and drinking on wages in Sweden. The empirical results conclude that medium drinking increases the probability of having a high income, i.e. there is a positive significant relationship between medium drinking and wages in Sweden. Also concluded from the empirical results is that there is not a significant relationship between smoking and wages in Sweden.</p>

Includes vita. / Title from PDF of title page. / Document formatted into pages; / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of South Florida, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references. / Text (Electronic thesis) in PDF format. / ABSTRACT: The primary purpose of this study was to examine the potential joint influence of need for cognition (NC), the dispositional preference for engaging in (or avoiding) effortful cognitive processing of information, and type of smoking risk message (i.e., factual and evaluative messages similar in message content and length) on the construction of smoking-relevant risk perceptions among college smokers. A secondary purpose was to examine potential mechanisms through which changes in risk perception might occur. 227 college smokers evaluated one of three pamphlets, (1) a factual (i.e., primarily fact-based) smoking risk pamphlet, (2) an evaluative (i.e., primarily emotion based) smoking risk pamphlet, or (3) a control pamphlet unrelated to smoking. Among occasional smokers, NC interacted with type of risk message to influence perceptions of post-pamphlet risk for several of the risk perception outcomes examined. / ABSTRACT: Specifically, smokers lower in NC reported higher levels of perceived risk in response to the evaluative pamphlet whereas smokers higher in NC reported greater perceived risk in response to the factual pamphlet. The interaction did not predict risk perception outcomes among daily smokers. Significant changes in the mechanisms examined were not observed. Findings provide evidence that NC interacts with type of smoking risk message to influence changes in smoking-related health risk perceptions among occasional college smokers. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. / System requirements: World Wide Web browser and PDF reader. / Mode of access: World Wide Web.

The purpose of this study was to look at the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of benzo-á-pyrene (BáP), a chemical mutagen that is present in cigarette smoke, on the insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) gene. Women who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to have a growth-restricted baby. We hypothesized that BáP exerts its effects through genotoxic and cytotoxic avenues. The cytotoxicity is manifested by chromosomal abnormalities and a decrease in the rate of cell division. The genotoxicity is manifested by changes in certain genes known to be important in mammalian fetal development such as IGF-I. IGF-I is implicated in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), a problem that greatly increases the risk of perinatal morbidity and mortality. To futher understand the mechanism by which BáP influences the normal growth and development of human placental cells, human placental trophoblast cells from an established immortalized cell line were utilized. Cells were cultured in appropriate media, starved (using starvation "Serum Free Medium"), and treated with two doses of BáP, 1µM (dose 1) and 5µM (dose 2). Chromosomes were prepared for cytogenetic analysis and visualized using light microscopy after Giemsa staining. Chromosomal aberrations were identified and the rate of cell division was determined through the analysis of the mitotic index for treated cells compared to a control group. To further understand the influence of BáP on the IGF-I gene expression level, RNA was extracted from control and treated cells, from which cDNA was synthesized and used for further analysis using polymerized chain reaction (PCR). The PCR results were used to better understand the genotoxicity of BáP, while chromosomal aberration analysis was used to determine the cytotoxic effects of BáP on human placental cells. Our results indicate that many chromosomal abnormalities were present in the treated groups compared to the control group. In addition, there was a significant decrease in the mitotic index of the BáP-treated cells (MI=0.3%) verses the control group (MI=0.93%), p value 0.0447. Through the PCR assay, we speculate that there is a dose-related response to BáP of the IGF-I RNA expression level, with low levels in the treated groups compared to the control group. We conclude from these results that BáP influences placental cells at both the gene and chromosome level. It also affects the cell cycle of human placental cells. It is known that smoking is deleterious for fetal development. We believe that the current study brings us closer to understanding the mechanism by which smoking can lead to fetal growth restriction.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 124-136).

Thesis (M.P.A.)--Kutztown University, 1996. / Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 45-06, page: 2937. Abstract precedes thesis as [3] preliminary leaves. Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [3]).