Investigation of the effect of the pandemic period on smoking habits with the Structural Equation Model

Cigarette consumption, which is one of the main causes of human death, is increasing day by day. Cigarette consumption is an important public health problem in Turkey as well as all over the world. Increasing cigarette consumption of individuals also reveals the concept of cigarette addiction. As a result, cigarette addiction is considered as a global social health problem. In cigarette consumption, which has become an important problem for all ages, especially youth period is seen as a risky period in terms of starting smoking and addiction. Considering the studies conducted in Turkey in recent years, it is seen that the rate of cigarette consumption among university students is over 30%. It is observed that cigarette consumption increases especially during periods of distress, anxiety and uncertainty. The COVID-19 pandemic, which started in China in 2019 and affected the whole world, has seriously affected health, social and economic areas and caused changes in these areas. It has been observed that especially prohibitions and restrictions have a significant effect on the consumption and habits of individuals. The aim of this study is to reveal the relationship between the pandemic and smoking with the Structural Equation Model by determining the smoking habits of university students and the factors that reduce smoking during the COVID-19 pandemic period. For this purpose, two scales were created. Factors Reducing Cigarette Consumption (FRCC) and Cigarette Consumption During the Pandemic Period (CCDP) scales were created and applied to 467 students studying at Uşak University, Turkey. By using explanatory factor analysis, 4 dimensions were obtained in FRCC scale, namely price increase, prohibitions, consciousness and addiction, and 4 dimensions were obtained in CCDP under the name of anxiety, uncertainty, economy and restrictions. Statistical comparisons between the dimensions obtained from both scales and the demographic characteristics were examined. Using the Structural Equation Model, the effect of the FRCC scale on the CCDP scale as well as the effect of the CCDP dimensions on the FRCC scale and its dimensions were investigated. As a result of the analysis, it was determined that the CCDP scale significantly explained the FRCC scale with a high coefficient. However, it was concluded that three of the dimensions of the CCDP scale positively and significantly explained the FRCC scale. While the dimensions of anxiety, uncertainty and restrictions had a statistically significant effect on FRCC, the economy dimension did not show a significant effect. In the light of these analyses, it was concluded that individuals caused an increase in cigarette consumption, considering both the pandemic period itself and processes such as anxiety, uncertainty and restrictions. Keywords: Confirmatory Factor Analysis, Pandemic Process, Cigarette Consumption, Structural Equation Model