Smoking Environments in Transition: Experiences of Chinese Migrants to Edmonton

• Author / Creator

  Li, Jia

• Globally, both smoking prevalence and protection from secondhand smoke are geographically variable. Substantial differences often exist between high-income countries and low and middle-income countries in terms of regulatory environments as well as social norms around smoking. This research investigated the experiences of migrants from China, a middle-income country where smoking is especially common among men, and relatively unregulated – to Canada, a high-income country where smoking is increasingly denormalized, and spatially restricted. To explore how immigrants experience the transition between these environments, focus groups were conducted in Edmonton, Alberta in August-October 2013 with 58 Chinese migrants, 48 of whom were international students. Participants generally expressed accurate perceptions, supportive attitudes and pleasant emotional experiences regarding the widespread non-smoking environments in Canada. Smokers’ cigarette consumption also decreased, which they attributed to well-enforced smoking bans. Stigmatization of smoking and smokers in Canada was less perceived, suggesting limited acculturation. Recent immigrants retained Chinese socio-cultural norms regarding smoking, and sustained the practice of sharing and gifting cigarettes.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Smoking prevalence
  • Immigrant health
  • Smoking bans
  • Tobacco denormalization
  • Immigration
  • Canada
  • China

• Graduation date

  Fall 2014

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Arts

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3KM3G

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.