SEGi UniversityIn Collaboration with University of Sunderland

B.ENG (Hons) MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

LEA 4173 ACADEMIC RESEARCH

Title: Literature Review

Lecturer: Ms Sarah

Name – Mohammed Umer Qureshi

Student ID – SCM 028698

2.0 Literature Review

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2014), there is no risk-free level of exposure to second-hand smoke, and it is the responsibility of the smokers to make the choice not to smoke in public areas. The literature review is guided by three research questions, what are the reasons and frequency of students smoking, student’s opinions towards smoking bans and objections students have about smoking bans at SEGi The research questions influenced the themes investigated in the literature review including causes of smoking on college campuses, knowledge of current smoking policies, students’ opinions of smoking policies. The themes are summarized below, and help find a gap in the literature that propel the need for further research.

2.1 Causes of Smoking

Regular smoking is usually established in early adulthood, and studies show that people who begin smoking at an earlier age (university phase) and are less likely to succeed in quitting (Everett et al. 1999). While 84% of young adult smokers (age 18-24) report having seriously tried to quit, only 8.5% report having successfully quit for 6 months or longer (Messer et al. " 2008).

According to Kayyikçi (2008), 40.2% of the final grade students at the Ataturk University smoked. 56.5% from that said that they smoke to release tense while 24.6% smoke for pleasure. Abolfutuoh (1998) states that curiosity was the main reason for initiation of smoking among students in medical students at the University College of Medicine and students of the College of Education.

There are other findings found in a research by Kader and Alsadi (2008) that say the students smoke because it helps them to concentrate as well as calm them down. They also said that students smoke because they also want to cope with stress and social anxieties. Kypri and Baxter (2004) also stated that students smoke because it helps them to relax especially during assessments and period exams.

2.2 Smoking Bans

In order to reduce smoking on college campuses, universities began implementing policies that aim to reduce or ban smoking. This is because “policy change is the most efficient means of establishing a healthy non-smoking norm on campus” (Polacek & Atkins, 2008, page 2)

Studies reveal the effectiveness of a campus-wide smoking ban is limited, but one survey comparing Indiana University and Purdue University shows positive results. According to the survey, the percentage of students who agree smoking among students is acceptable declined between 2007 and 2009 (Seo, Macy, Torabi, & Middlestadt, 2011). After implementing a smoking ban at Indiana University, the percentage of student smokers declined 4% (Seo et al., 2011). This is a valuable benefit to having a smoke-free campus as it poses less risk to the health of students, faculty and staff, further more associated with a smoke-free campus include a cleaner environment and healthier air quality (Berg, Lessar, Parklkar, Thrasher, Kegler, Goldade, & Escoffery, 2011).

The disadvantages of a ban on smoking campus wide would be the burden placed on smokers and difficulty enforcing the new rule (Berg et al., 2011). Colleges and universities must also take into consideration international students and their cultural background, since smoking is an acceptable social behaviour in some countries, so a smoking ban may have a negative effect on enrolment of international students.

2.3 SEGi Rules on smoking in campus

According to the SEGi website, the University has smoking areas at particular points, there is a smoking area in the basement and students are not allowed to smoke in the building of campus, whether it be the library, study area and the food cafeteria. Also washrooms and the hallways, smoking is strictly prohibited. Many students smoke in at different areas in the campus, pathways and there is no strict smoke free policy which is implemented to caution students about smoking at permitted or non-permitted areas.