Introduction
Nair, Collins & Napolitano (2013) deduct that, smoking is used by female smokers as a maladaptive weight control strategy. The three observe that, numerous benefits associated with smoking include weight control, reduced anxiety and enhancing mood. Notably, the afore-listed benefits can be achieved by doing physical activities. A growing number of literatures have suggested that, female smokers experience difficulties and face endless unique tobacco-associated risks to their sexual and reproductive health compared to males. Such evidence calls for a study to be conducted, to understand better the behavioral concerns facing female smokers. This critique paper aims at analyzing the questions being answered by the three authors in their study, the tested hypothesis, statistical analysis, and the ensuing findings.
The purpose of the study is to assess impacts of physical activities, against sedentary behaviors on urge to smoke response as a result of a body image challenge with the weight-sensitive women smokers. The article’s primary hypothesis is to indicate that, after manipulation of the body image, sedentary smokers would display increased urge to smoke, and a reduced latency the initial puff on a cigar, when compared to active smokers. Conclusively, the study observed that, physical activities are associated with lower urge following an exposure of body image prompts.
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The article lacks analysis of scientific literatures, which would have given readers an insight on the contributions and findings made by scholars interested in the topic.
Looking at the findings of the research, it would be advisable to use more variables in order to realize better results. By using numerous variables, the study is likely to get varying results and as such, it would make it easier to determine the effects and causes of body image exposure session on the urge to smoke.
In view of the study, some things need to be done differently. Firstly, most smoking research projects have focused primarily on Caucasian females, especially because weight issues were identified as prevalent in the sample chosen (Nair, Collins & Napolitano, 2013). Considering recent research indicates similar concerns are evident in other racial groups, and then it means, future studies ought to do it differently by focusing on other populations.
The authors used statistical testing, which is an appropriate approach of singling out similar elements affecting women smokers. In determining the relationship between physical activity and the urge to smoke, the study utilized the partial correlation analysis. This form of analysis is helpful in describing association of two variables in a given period. However, in view of the study, this method of analysis was ineffective because the sample size used is small. Owing to the small sample size, the study lacks sufficient statistical power to arrive at a weighty and tangible conclusion. In the limitation section, the study admits that the sample is small. In that case, the generalizability of the results is reduced significantly, to a more heterogeneous population that includes heavier smokers.
In conclusion, Nair, Collins & Napolitano (2013) focused on assessing impacts of physical activities, against sedentary behaviors on urge to smoke response as a result of a body image. The ensuing analysis pointed out that, the sample size used was small, and as such the partial correlation analysis used did not manage to give proper results. In that case, the sample size needs to be improved, and if possible, include other racial populations.
References
Nair, U. S., Collins, B. N. & Napolitano, M. A. (2013). Differential effects of a body image exposure session on smoking urge between physically active and sedentary female smokers. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors , Vol. 27, No. 1, 322–327.
