Michalek AK, Wong SL, Brown-Johnson CG, Prochaska JJ. Smoking and Unemployment: A Photo Elicitation Project.
Tob Use Insights 2020;
13:1179173X20921446. [PMID:
32669882 PMCID:
PMC7338730 DOI:
10.1177/1179173x20921446]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction:
Research has documented higher smoking prevalence with unemployment and
greater difficulty with gaining re-employment for those who smoke. Using
photo elicitation methods, we sought to gain a deeper understanding of the
connection between job-seeking and tobacco use.
Methods:
Unemployed daily smokers (18 men, 1 woman) were recruited from the San
Francisco Employment Development Department (EDD) and provided disposable
cameras with 27 exposures and a list of 20 photo prompts related to
job-seeking and tobacco. Study staff reviewed the photos with the
participants and audio-recorded their narratives. The photos and narratives
were coded for themes.
Results:
Of 363 photos, the most frequent photo imagery related to transportation
(n = 56, 15.4%), work or education (n = 39, 10.7%), and littered cigarettes
(n = 39, 10.7%). Narrated themes centered on motivators to quit smoking (255
mentions from 15 participants); people, places, and things associated with
smoking (248 mentions, 16 participants); and motivators to secure work (157
mentions, 13 participants). The intersection of smoking and unemployment
received 92 mentions from 11 participants, with 60 mentions (8 participants)
identifying smoking as a barrier to re-employment.
Conclusions:
Both motivators to quit and associated smoking cues were salient in the
environments of job-seeking smokers. Struggles with quitting and perceptions
that smoking is harming re-employment success suggest the potential for
offering tobacco treatment in EDD settings. With permission, the photos and
themes have been incorporated into a tobacco treatment intervention for
job-seeking smokers.
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