Smokers' compliance with smoke-free policies, and non-smokers' assertiveness for smoke-free air in the workplace: a study from the Balkans.

OBJECTIVE: Identify the psychosocial variables that predict smokers' compliance with smoke-free policies at work, and non-smokers' assertiveness for smoke-free rights in Greek and Bulgarian workplaces. METHODS: Data were collected from employees in Greece and Bulgaria. The main outcome measures were smokers' compliance with smoke-free policies, and non-smokers' assertiveness intentions. Demographic variables, tobacco use and dependence, as well as beliefs about second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure and smoking at work were also assessed. RESULTS: Regression analyses showed that smokers' compliance with smoke-free policies was predicted by age, perceived health risks of smoking, and beliefs related to the benefits of smoking at work. Non-smokers' assertiveness was predicted by annoyance from exposure to SHS at work, and assertiveness-related social cognitions (e.g., attitudes, social norms, and self-efficacy). CONCLUSIONS: Interventions to promote support for tobacco control policies at work in Greece and Bulgaria may benefit from targeting smokers' beliefs about the actual effects of tobacco use on health and job performance. Accordingly, efforts to promote non-smokers assertiveness should build stronger assertiveness-related attitudes, convey anti-smoking normative messages, and strengthen self-efficacy skills.

Perceived risk and benefit for self and others as predictors of smokers' attitudes towards smoking restrictions.

Studies have investigated perceived own risk as a predictor of behavioural change, but only few have investigated perceived risk to others. However, many risks are distributed, affecting other people as much as the 'agents' of the behaviour in question. Further, research on health perceptions has focussed more on risk than benefit even though people generally choose to engage in behaviours because of benefits not risks. The present study investigated the acceptance of smoking restrictions in Germany, a country that at the time of conducting the research had few restrictions on smoking. Smokers (N = 147) rated the benefits and risks of smoking for themselves and others, and their attitudes towards smoking restrictions. We replicated comparative optimism and reality constraints concerning smoking risks. Additionally, we found that participants overestimated their own benefits compared to other smokers ('comparative utility'). Importantly, own benefits but risks to others best predicted the acceptance of smoking regulations. Moreover, smokers who intended to quit differed from those who did not intend to quit. These findings are potentially important for policy makers aiming to broaden acceptance of regulations for risky behaviours: It may be more effective to remind people they are putting others at risk rather than themselves.