View of City of Yazd Citizens on the Impact of Visual Media on the Prevention and Incidence of Smoking among Adolescents and Young Adults

There is a strong positive correlation between the onset of smoking in adolescents and young adults, and exposure to media and movies which shown consumption of smoking. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the views of the people of Yazd, Iran on the impact of visual media on the prevention and incidence of smoking among adolescents and young adults. This was a descriptive (crosssectional) study. Participants were 582 individuals living in the city of Yazd. The self administrative questionnaire was used which validity and reliability was measured. After completing the questionnaires, the data were analyzed by using SPSS Version 16. Based on participants’ view role of family, friends and media respectively were more important in the tendency of adolescents and young adults smoking users. Almost 80% of subjects showed that influence of smoking in the media on a positive attitude towards tobacco smoking among adolescents and young people was very high. More than 55% of participants confirmed that the lack of smoking in movies doesn’t affect the quality of films. The present study suggest control and monitoring on media, limitation or lack of smoking on media and films is an important factor to decreasing and control of smoking in adolescents and young adults.