A Qualitative Study to Explore the Factors Influencing Tobacco Chewing Behaviour and the Lifestyle Experience Among Adolescents.

Background of the study: Teenagers are the group most likely to start using tobacco products. As is now well known, the majority of adult tobacco users began using the drug when they were young or in their teens. Recent WHO surveys indicate that schoolchildren in India are consuming more tobacco products, and the majority of them begin taking drugs at an early age. Teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19 are particularly susceptible to the detrimental effects of maturing, peer pressure, popularity, and accessibility. Research methodology: In the present study qualitative phenomenological research approach was selected, and investigator selected urban slum area of Bharuch, Gujarat state. The sample size for the study was 8 adolescents. Data collection was done using snowball sampling technique. The data was analyzed and interpreted by using thematic analysis. Result of the study: The investigation reveled that a number of factors contribute to the lifestyle experiences that teenagers have. Teenagers start this behavior due to peer pressure, familial and professional pressure, tobacco taste, and a once-in-a-lifetime attempt. The workplace is one of the triggers for tobacco chewing. After meals, some teenagers also choose to smoke. They feel happier and have more focus after using tobacco. Certain physical and emotional changes result from insufficient amounts of tobacco. Adolescents that engage in this behavior may experience social stigma, eventual health concerns, and certain changes in lifestyle. Conclusion: Based on the results of the following study, it concluded that peer groups and family and co-worker behavior influence tobacco chewing initiation. Other reasons that cause the need to chew tobacco include the setting at work and the sensation of being provoked after eating. A lack of it causes specific psychological and bodily changes. Adolescents who exhibit this behavior face social shame, eventual health concerns, and lifestyle modifications.