Table 2 Meta-themes within conceptual categories
Conceptual category | Meta-theme |
|---|---|
1. Reasons for taking up smoking | 1.1 Alleviating stress 1.2 Influence of family and friends 1.3 Transition to further study, employment or leaving home 1.4 Experimenting with other risk-taking behaviours |
2. Adopting a smoker identity | 2.1 Transforming identity: a mature image 2.2 Transforming identity: a rebellious image 2.3 Sense of belonging 2.4 Smoking in groups to prevent negative reactions 2.5 Smoking to facilitate new relationships 2.6 Alcohol and social smoking |
3. Stigma of smoking | 3.1 Sensing social disapproval 3.2 Women stigmatised for smoking |
4. Barriers to quitting | 4.1 Pleasure of smoking 4.2 Minimising the health risk of smoking 4.3 Not identifying with addiction 4.4 Not identifying as a smoker |
5. Factors facilitating quit attempts | 5.1 Health concerns 5.2 Self-motivation and self-confidence 5.3 Pregnancy 5.4 Recognising own addiction to smoking 5.5 Non-smoking peers |