Abstract:
This research was a cross-sectional descriptive study aimed to examine factors associated with non-smoking intention among early adolescents in the community by applying the theory of planned behavior. There were two hundred and forty two young adolescents, aged 10 14 years old, both males and females, selected by multistage random sampling. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaire and data analyses were performed using descriptive statistics, Chisquare test, Pearsons product moment correlation coefficient, stepwise multiple regression analysis and Structural Equation Model. The results of the study revealed that income, attitudes towards non-smoking behavior, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control on non-smoking behavior were associated with non-smoking intention (r = -.142, .192, .280, and .548 respectively; p < 0.05). It was also found that perceived behavioral control on non-smoking behavior, attitudes towards non-smoking behavior, income and education showed predictability of 34.3% for non-smoking intention among early adolescent (R2= 0.343). The theory of planned behavior could partially explain non-smoking intention among early adolescents. This finding could guide further research in knowledge promoting programs about the harmful smoking, negative attitude towards smoking behavior and behavioral skills that help to avoid smoking.