Armenian Smoking Behaviors in America

This study examined smoking behaviors of Armenian men in America. All male congregants from a large Armenian church were surveyed on their smoking practices, demographic information, how many generations they were removed from Armenia, and other variables. Armenian men in Armenia have some of the highest smoking rates in the world. An estimated 77% of Armenian men smoke cigarettes. This study examines whether living in America lowers the smoking rates, or if Armenian culture, even within the United States, promotes exceptionally high rates of tobacco consumption. Many men in Armenia start smoking while in the military. Military participation, whether in America or in Armenia was a variable that was examined in this study. Previous studies have shown that Armenian men have such high rates of tobacco consumption due to exceptionally difficult social situations. High rates of unemployment and underemployment, lack of super power support, a history of natural disasters, and a bleak economic future often lead to a sense of hopelessness and despair that is addressed through high rates of smoking. This current study found that the rates for smoking by Armenian men in America are less than those still in Armenia. While we are often led to believe that American culture leads to poor health practices, for Armenians, American culture seems to promote a distancing from the high rates of tobacco consumption seen in Armenia.