There are about one fifth of Chinese population smoking and two thirds of Chinese men becoming daily smokers before reaching 25 years of age. If current rates of new smokers persist in China, tobacco will kill one third of all Chinese men now under 30 (about 100 million) before they reach 70 years of age. Due to China's large population, the actual number of people affected by cigarette smoking is far more significant than that in other countries.
To develop effective tobacco control programs in China, it is necessary to examine why such a large number of Chinese smoke. This exploratory study examined the influence of Chinese cultural traditions and society on Chinese smoking behaviors. During a recent three-week study abroad program, face-to-face interviews were conducted among 12 college students from four different universities in China. Each interview lasted for about one hour with open-ended questions exploring reasons contributing to Chinese smoking behaviors. Notes taken during the interviews were compiled and analyzed to identify the underlining causes of smoking behaviors. It was found that Chinese society and cultural traditions have played a significant role in Chinese smoking behaviors. Results revealed the mentality behind why Chinese people integrate smoking into social norms and pressures. Participants reported interesting, but daunting, phenomena in China: in order to have a successful business transaction or pleasant social gathering, there must be cigarettes and “high quality” cigarettes (imported or name brand) are the “choice” of gifts by many Chinese in any power positions. Some participants stated that it is very difficulty to quit smoking when they have to interact with people and get things done. Participants noted that such social pressure ingrained in the Chinese culture has the same influence on the smoking habits of many people who live in rural and urban parts of China.
Results from this study indicated that an in-depth understanding of how Chinese society and cultural traditions pressure adults to smoke can help develop programs to break the social pressures of smoking. Due to the qualitative nature of this exploratory study, a larger scale study needs to be conducted to confirm the findings from this study. If the findings from this study hold true, intervention programs need to be developed to help present day college students and youth who are future leaders to set new social standards and practices that smoke is not needed while conducting business or in social gatherings.