Quantitative Analysis of Smoking's Effect on Mental Health in UK

This report investigates the impact of smoking on the mental health of young people in the UK, employing a quantitative research methodology. The study aims to understand the concept of smoking and mental health, examine the factors and trends promoting smoking among young people, identify the association between smoking and mental health, and develop ways to reduce the negative impacts. The methodology involved primary data collection and statistical analysis of a sample of 20 young people. Key findings indicate that smoking significantly affects both the mental and physical health of young individuals, with factors like peer pressure and the desire to try new things contributing to smoking habits. The research concludes that smoking is detrimental to the health of young people and suggests the need for interventions to reduce smoking rates and improve mental well-being. Desklib provides access to similar solved assignments and study tools for students.

Quantitative Research Methods for Social
Scientists

ABSTRACT
The current report deals with habit relating to smoking and how it affects the mental health of the person. This is pertaining to the fact
that when a person smokes then it automatically affects the mental health of the person. Hence, it is necessary for the person to not
smoke and try to maintain the mental health in better manner. The methodology section of the study outlined that use of quantitative
study is very beneficial for the researcher to gain proper and accurate output. Also, with the finding it was evaluated that the use of
smoking affects the mental health of the person to a great extent. This is pertaining to the fact that when the person smoked more than
this will be affecting their mental health as they will suffer with more health issues.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................4
METHODOLOGY..........................................................................................................................5
Methods used..............................................................................................................................5
Sampling.....................................................................................................................................6
Research process.........................................................................................................................6
Ethical consideration...................................................................................................................6
Reflexivity...................................................................................................................................6
RESULT..........................................................................................................................................6
DISCUSSION..................................................................................................................................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10
APPENDIX 1.................................................................................................................................11
APPENDIX 2.................................................................................................................................36
APPENDIX 3.................................................................................................................................65
APPENDIX 4.................................................................................................................................68

Topic- To determine how smoking affects mental health of young people. A study on UK.
INTRODUCTION
Background
Smoking is being referred to as act of inhaling and exhaling the fumes of burning plant material. Smoking is a habit which
creates high negative impact over the life and mental health of person. The present study will outline the impact which is being created
by smoking over health of person. Along with this, study will also outline the factors and trends which promote smoking among
young people.
Rationale
In the current modern world, the young people are getting indulged in negative activities more. This is pertaining to the fact
that current trend is of smoking and young people gets attracted towards bad habits first. Hence, the reason behind selection of
smoking as the research topic is that it creates negative impact over the mental health of person. The present study will help in
enhancing knowledge relating to factors which promote smoking habit among young people and how it can be controlled.
Research question and aim
Aim
“To analyse how habit of smoking distresses the mental health of young people in UK.
Objective
 To develop understanding relating to concept of smoking and mental health
 To examine the factors and trends which promotes smoking among young people and results in affecting their mental health.
 To identify the association between smoking and the mental health with respect to young people.
 To develop some of the ways through which these impact over mental health can be reduced.
Research question
1. What is the concept of smoking and mental health?

2. What are the factor and trend that promote smoking among young people and how it affects mental health?
3. What is the association within smoking and mental health of young people?
LITERATURE REVIEW
In accordance with the views Niedzwiedz and et.al., (2021) smoking is not good for the person as it affects the mental health
and well- being of the person. The reason behind this fact is that smoking is an activity which affects health of the person to a great
extent. Along with this mental health is being defined as emotional, cognitive and behavioural well- being of the person.
Moreover, Smith and et.al., (2020) states that there are different factors which promotes habit of smoking within young people.
The most common reason is getting popular among the friends and peers and this peer pressure influences young people to start
smoke. Along with this, there is a tendency among young people that they must try new things which will make them connected with
young generation. Hence, this also motivates young people to start smoking even though it is not good for their health. Another reason
might be depression because young people try to involve themselves in some other activities for relaxing from depression.
In the opinion of Amos and et.al., (2020) the smoking causes negative impact over the health of child both physically and
mentally. This is because of the reason that there is different impact of smoking on health like cancer, stoke, lung diseases, chronic
bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and many other negative impact.
Along with this Agnew-Blais and et.al., (2018) states that other than physical health, negative impact is also created over
mental health as well. The smoking can cause anxiety among young people. In addition to this, the stress level of young people will
also increase in case they get addicted to smoking.
METHODOLOGY
Methods used
In the present case of analysis of smoking impacting mental health of young people, use of quantitative research is being
undertaken. The reason for selection of this method is that it will provide more accurate and concise outcome.

Sampling
The sample is being referred to as selection of some of participant from whole population. This is necessary for the reason that
selecting small sample will provide better data and analysis will be done better (Snyder, 2019). In the present case of researching
relating to impact of smoking on mental health sample of 20 young people was selected. The young people was selected because
smoking is prevailing among young people to a great extent.
Research process
For the process of research, the use of primary source of data is undertaken. The reason underlying this fact is that primary
source will provide the first hand information which is good for the success of study. Further the different statistical methods are also
applied in order to prove the objectives correct.
Ethical consideration
The ethical aspect considered by the researcher is that there is informed consent being taken from the respondents (Newman
and Gough, 2020). This is essential to be taken because the researchers use personal information of participant and because of this
there is requirement of taking informed consent.
Reflexivity
In the present case I played the part of analysis of data and this was the most crucial part. The reason for selection of the data
analysis as part is that without this aspect the study cannot be successful.
RESULT
Descriptive statistics
Statistics

Age Gender Q1. Are
you
aware of
concept
of
smoking
and
mental
health?
Q2. Do
the
mental
health
being
affected
by
smoking
or not?
Q3. Do
you agree
that along
with
mental
health,
physical
health is
also
affected
by excess
of
smoking?
Q4. Are
there any
factors
which
promotes
habit of
smoking
among
young
people?
Q5. From
the
following
what are
the factors
which
promote
smoking
among
young
people?
Q6.
According
to you is
there any
association
between
smoking
and mental
health of
person?
Q7.
What is
the
impact
of
smoking
over the
mental
health of
person?
Q8. Can
the habit
of
smoking
be
reduced
within
the
young
person?
Q9. What
are the
strategies
through
which
smoking
habit can
be
reduced
among
young
people?
Q10. Will
compliance
to these
strategies
will
improve
reduction in
smoking
habit?
N Valid 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
Missing 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Mean 2.0500 1.5000 1.3500 1.4500 1.3500 2.5000 3.0000 1.3500 1.6000 1.3500 3.0000 1.3500
Median 2.0000 1.5000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 2.0000 3.5000 1.0000 2.0000 1.0000 3.5000 1.0000
Mode 1.00 1.00a 1.00 1.00 1.00 2.00 4.00 1.00 2.00 1.00 4.00 1.00
Std.
Deviation 1.14593 .51299 .48936 .51042 .48936 1.10024 1.16980 .48936 .50262 .48936 1.16980 .48936
a. Multiple modes exist. The smallest value is shown

With the analysis of the descriptive statistics it is clear that average participant states that they are aware of the concept of
smoking and the its impact over health. Along with this it is also evident then with mental health, physical health of young people is
also affected by use of smoking. Moreover, with the descriptive it is clear that there are different factors which promotes smoking
among young people and this creates negative impact over health of person. This was supported by average participant that
consumption of smoke affects the mental health of person. With the help of age frequency (table 2), it is clear that 45 % of population
belongs to young category and 20 % belongs to middle and above 50. Also with the analysis of gender (table 3) is 50 % were male and
50 % were female. Further with help of table 9 it was analyzed that 65% of the respondent stated that there is association between the
smoking and mental health of person.
Cross Tabulation
Attached in appendix
Further with the help of cross tabulation it was clear that majority of people states that smoking of habit must be reduced
among the people. With the help of cross tabulation table 51, it is clear that 9 male states that yes there is association between smoking
and mental health. Also, the significance value is 0.019 which is less than 0.05 and this implies that there is proper association being
based in both these variables. Also on the basis of age this is not being proven as the significance value is more than standard 0.05
(table 27). Also, with help of another table relating to impact of smoking on mental health (table 54 and 55) it was proved that there is
negative relation being created over the mental health of person. This is particularly because of the reason that the significance value is
0.00 which is less than 0.05 and because of this it can be stated that there is negative impact over mental health of company.
DISCUSSION
With the above finding and result it is evaluated that smoking affects the health of person to a great extent. This is particularly
because of the reason that smoking has different impact over the mental and physical health as well. With the finding it was clear that
majority of the respondent agreed that there are different factors which increases smoking habit of young people.

In support of this states Why Kids Start Smoking, (2022) that these different factor affect the mind of young people and they
get addicted towards smoking. These factors generally involve peer pressure that is other friends are also smoking so this influence the
young people and they start smoking. Along with this another factor encouraging smoking habit among young people is the thinking
of having all the latest trend and trying something new.
Moreover, the finding also stated that the smoking creates negative impact over the health of young people both mental and
physical. In support of this Chen (2020) articulates that this creates the negative impact on health because smoking causes different
types of diseases. These diseases involve cancer, lung disease, heart diseases, COPD, emphysema. Moreover, it also creates impact
over mental health and well- being as well. this creates the impact of increase anxiety, depression, stress and many other factors (Jacob
and et.al., 2020). The stress might be developed because of the reason that young people might think that their friends are smoking and
in case they will not do smoking then this can affect the social presence. Thus, it can be stated that smoking creates a negative impact
over mental health of young people.
CONCLUSION
In the end the above report evaluated the fact that smoking is a bad habit and this creates negative impact over the health of
person. Particularly in young people this is currently trending and it creates negative impact over the working and health of them.
Also, the factor identified from the study were peer pressure, interest of doing something new and many other. In the end it was
analysed the smoking causes negative impact over mental health of person along with physical health.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Agnew-Blais, J. C., and et.al., 2018. Young adult mental health and functional outcomes among individuals with remitted, persistent
and late-onset ADHD. The British journal of psychiatry. 213(3). pp.526-534.
Amos, R., and et.al., 2020. Mental health, social adversity, and health-related outcomes in sexual minority adolescents: a
contemporary national cohort study. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health. 4(1). pp.36-45.
Chen, D. T. H., 2020. The psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on changes in smoking behavior: Evidence from a
nationwide survey in the UK. Tobacco Prevention & Cessation. 6.
Jacob, L., and et.al., 2020. The relationship between physical activity and mental health in a sample of the UK public: A cross-
sectional study during the implementation of COVID-19 social distancing measures. Mental health and physical activity. 19.
p.100345.
Newman, M. and Gough, D., 2020. Systematic reviews in educational research: Methodology, perspectives and
application. Systematic reviews in educational research, pp.3-22.
Niedzwiedz, C. L., and et.al., 2021. Mental health and health behaviours before and during the initial phase of the COVID-19
lockdown: longitudinal analyses of the UK Household Longitudinal Study. J Epidemiol Community Health. 75(3). pp.224-231.
Smith, L., and et.al., 2020. Correlates of symptoms of anxiety and depression and mental wellbeing associated with COVID-19: a
cross-sectional study of UK-based respondents. Psychiatry research. 291. p.113138.
Snyder, H., 2019. Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines. Journal of business research. 104.
pp.333-339.
Online
Why Kids Start Smoking. 2022. [Online]. Available through: < https://www.lung.org/quit-smoking/helping-teens-quit/why-kids-start-
smoking>

SPSS output
APPENDIX 1
Table 1- Statistical data for all variables
Statistics
Age GenderQ1. Are
you aware
of
concept
of
smoking
and
mental
health?
Q2. Do
the
mental
health
being
affected
by
smoking
or not?
Q3. Do
you agree
that along
with
mental
health,
physical
health is
also
affected
by excess
of
smoking?
Q4. Are
there any
factors
which
promotes
habit of
smoking
among
young
people?
Q5. From
the
following
what are
the
factors
which
promote
smoking
among
young
people?
Q6.
According
to you is
there any
association
between
smoking
and mental
health of
person?
Q7. What
is the
impact of
smoking
over the
mental
health of
person?
Q8. Can
the habit
of
smoking
be
reduced
within the
young
person?
Q9. What
are the
strategies
through
which
smoking
habit can
be
reduced
among
young
people?
Q10. Will
compliance
to these
strategies
will
improve
reduction
in smoking
habit?
N Valid 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
Missing0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Mean 2.0500 1.5000 1.3500 1.4500 1.3500 2.5000 3.0000 1.3500 1.6000 1.3500 3.0000 1.3500
Median 2.0000 1.5000 1.0000 1.0000 1.0000 2.0000 3.5000 1.0000 2.0000 1.0000 3.5000 1.0000
Mode 1.00 1.00a 1.00 1.00 1.00 2.00 4.00 1.00 2.00 1.00 4.00 1.00

Std.
Deviation 1.14593.51299 .48936 .51042 .48936 1.10024 1.16980 .48936 .50262 .48936 1.16980 .48936
a. Multiple modes exist. The smallest value is shown
Frequency Table
Table 2- Frequency of age
Age
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative
Percent
Valid
Young (0- 35) 9 45.0 45.0 45.0
Middle (36- 50) 4 20.0 20.0 65.0
Above 50 4 20.0 20.0 85.0
4.00 3 15.0 15.0 100.0
Total 20 100.0 100.0