Demographic and lifestyle factors associated with perception about risk of passive smoking in the Malaysian adolescent population

AIMS: Exposure to passive smoking among adolescents is a public health concern. This study aims to explore demographic and lifestyle factors associated with perception of passive smoking risk and the mediating effects of exposure to anti-smoking advertisements and education about the dangers of smoking on the relationship between grade levels and the perception.

METHOD: Data from the Tobacco and E-Cigarette Survey among Malaysian Adolescents (n = 13,117) were analysed. Ordered probit models were used to assess factors associated with passive smoking risk perception (i.e. not harmful, probably not harmful, probably harmful, harmful).

RESULTS: About one-third of adolescents did not perceive that passive smoking was harmful (30.4%). Adolescents with the perception that passive smoking was not harmful were more likely to be students at low grade levels, be males, be non-Malays and be low-pocket-money recipients and those who used e-cigarettes and who smoked. Being aware of anti-smoking advertisements (direct effect = 0.174; indirect effect = 0.012) and taught on the dangers of smoking (direct effect = 0.179; indirect effect = 0.003) partially mediated the positive relationship between grade levels and perceived risk of passive smoking.

CONCLUSION: Policies implemented to reduce exposure to passive smoking should highlight the important role of demographic factors, lifestyle profiles, anti-smoking advertisements and education about the dangers of smoking in improving passive smoking risk perception among adolescents.