The Effect of Smoking on Family Functions

Abstract

Aim: Family is the most natural environment where people can meet their needs of love, compassion, affection and care for mental and physical health. In this study, we aim to investigate the relation between smoking and family functions. Material and Method: Ninety seven patients between 18-60 years age who were admitted to the Ankara Training and Research Hospital, live with at least one family member and agreed to participate in the study were included in this study. Cross-sectional, observational and analytic methods were applied. The recorded data of the participants were as follows: age, sex, occupation, marital status, education level, the family members whom living with, the status of smoking at home, chronic diseases and current medication. McMaster Model of Family Functioning (MMFF) and Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) were used. Results: Statistically significant differences between MMFF scores of smoking patients in the subscales of “Roles” and “Affective Involvement” were found (p=0.004, p= 0.002, respectively). We have seen in the subscale of “Problem Solving” that single members were negatively affected (p=0.033). The negative effects of smoking were found to be decreasing by age in the “Communication” subscale (p=0.002). The “Roles” subscale was observed to be negatively disturbed in the group of smokers with chronic diseases(p=0,050). We also found that being single and having a chronic disease negatively affected “Affective Responsiveness” subscale (p=0.050, p=0.020, respectively). Conclusion: Smoking affects the family functions negatively. Thus, the fight against smoking might be thought to make a favorable effect on the family functions.

Keywords

• family medicine
• smoking.
• family functions
• aile işlevleri
• aile hekimliği
• sigara.