Past Issues

Objectives: In this present study, we investigated social infl uence and social
selection to explain the social process for betel nut-chewing behavior. Methods:
We recruited 174 adolescents from a junior high school for a three month study
with data collection in two waves. They all completed the questionnaire including
the social norm and intention scale. Results: In this study, most(93%) of adolescents
never chewed betel nut in both waves 1 and 2. No differences were found
between both waves in intention and social norm. In the canonical correlation, the
social infl uence model was not founded to be signifi cantly correlated, but the social
selection model signifi cantly correlated(r=0.27, p=0.02). Conclusion: Based
on the fi ndings of this study, we suggest that social selection model may best account
for the relation between the perceived social norm and chewing intention.
The fi nding may be used in the prevention program for the adolescents’ betel nutchewing
problem.