Individual Characteristics and Media Exposure as Predictors of Smoking Behavior among Married Men in Indonesia

Abstract

Men in Indonesia act as role models in the household. Male smokers influence other family members to behave in the same manner. The study aimed to analyze individual characteristics and media exposure as predictors of smoking behavior among married men in Indonesia. The study utilized the 2017 Indonesian Demographic Data Survey with 9,863 men. Besides smoking behavior, other variables analyzed included age, type of place, education, employment, wealth, health insurance, literacy, frequency of reading newspaper/magazine, frequency of listening to the radio, frequency of watching television, and frequency of using the internet. Determination using Binary Logistic Regression. Age was significantly proven as a determinant of smoking behavior among married men in Indonesia. Men with higher education were less likely than those with no education to have smoking behavior. The better the wealth status, the lower the chance for smoking behavior. Men who have health insurance were less likely to have smoking behavior. Married men who listened to the radio less than once a week were 1.175 times more likely than married men who didn't listen to the radio at all to have smoking behavior. Married men who watch television less than once a week have 1.797 times more chances than married men who don't watch television at all to have smoking behavior. It could concluded there were six variables were proven as predictors of smoking behavior, namely age, education, wealth, health insurance, frequency of listening to the radio, and frequency watching of television.