Parental intentionality in preventing male adolescent tobacco use

The purpose of this study is to investigate parental intentionality and communication as a protective factor related to non-smoking in African American and Caucasian male adolescents residing in rural, tobacco producing counties in Virginia. Data were collected from seven parents of non-tobacco using male adolescents using Photovoice and a semi-structured protocol. Interviews were tape-recorded, transcribed, and coded for themes. Themes emerging as protective factors were early and open communication with parents, intentionality of parents in sending non-tobacco use messages, avoidance of smell and concern with smoke on body and clothes, avoidance of social and physical isolation, concern for financial implications and cost of tobacco products, religious beliefs and spirituality, importance of aspirations and future goals, knowledge of the consequences of using tobacco products, rules and expectations for family and home visitors, and fear of health and physical limitations. An analysis of the effectiveness of Photovoice in eliciting responses from both the male adolescents and their parents found both groups noting that without the pictures they would not have either remembered specific instances they photographed or the feelings they had when viewing the pictures in retrospect. Findings from this study of parental intentionality in communicating messages of non-use of tobacco products adds to the literature of protective factors in the lives of male adolescents.