Research

As the national university, we champion and support innovative research that addresses the country’s most pressing challenges.

17 Feb 2025

UP Los Baños

Verb-controlled that-clauses are the most useful finite complement clauses in applied linguistics, communication, and measurement and evaluation research articles

The study cross-investigated finite complement clauses (FCCs) in qualitative (QUALI) and quantitative (QUANTI) research articles (RAs) written by Filipino academic...

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12 Feb 2025

UP Los Baños

Machine learning can identify cancerous samples with almost 100% accuracy and could thus replace the current, more traumatic screening methods

The success rate of treating colorectal cancer (CRC) can be greatly increased through the early and accurate diagnosis of the...

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11 Feb 2025

UP Diliman

Roger Felix Salditos’s writings offer a key perspective on the persistence of one of the world’s longest-running rural insurgencies

Roger Felix V. Salditos was among seven Filipino revolutionaries who were summarily executed by police and military forces in San...

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11 Feb 2025

UP Visayas

Boracay, Gigantes and Guimaras islands are in potentially sustainable status according to locals and visitors

This study considered the interaction or nexus of people and the natural resources in small island tourist destinations in the...

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10 Feb 2025

UP Diliman

Can we use acoustic indices to estimate the relative number of bird species in urban areas?

Birds are used as biological indicators of ecosystem health. They are often surveyed through point count method which requires skilled...

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10 Feb 2025

UP Diliman

Mindset and emotional resilience, known as psychological capital, can improve the overall educational experience of students and teachers

This paper delves into how the mindset and emotional resilience—referred to as psychological capital or PsyCap—of students and teachers in...

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07 Feb 2025

UP Manila

The use of skin-lightening products is linked to psychological distress among Filipinos

The Philippines is one of Southeast Asia’s top consumers of beauty products. There have been few studies on the psychological...

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06 Feb 2025

UP Los Baños

Two species belonging to the group of species commonly known as lagundi were found to be endemic to the Philippines

The Vitex trifolia complex in the Philippines consists of economically important medicinal species, including five species collectively referred to as medicinal “lagundi”. The V. trifolia complex...

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04 Feb 2025

UP Diliman

Switching jeepneys to Euro-4 engines can significantly reduce air pollution and improve public health

In the Philippines, new rules require public vehicles, like jeepneys, to use Euro-4 diesel engines, which are cleaner and more...

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04 Feb 2025

UP Diliman

The rising frequency of toxic algal blooms in the Philippines and Malaysia could be linked to climate change

Our study explores the growth of toxic algal blooms in the waters near the Philippines and Malaysia, countries with coastal...

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03 Feb 2025

UP Los Baños

Ang pagbibiro ni Duterte tungkol sa kaniyang phallus ay walang matibay na kahulugan sa loob at labas ng Pilipinas

Mula sa dalawang pahayag ni Rodrigo Duterte hinggil sa kaniyang aring lalagpas sa pusod (2019) at kaniyang sariling pagpapakahulugan sa...

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30 Jan 2025

UP Diliman

Analysis of Philippine High Court decisions on free speech, religious freedom and environmental rights reveals court’s role in transjudicial dialogue

This paper explores the causes of transjudicial conversation phenomenon on human rights norms in the context of the Philippine Supreme...

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Research

Smoking is considered a serious health threat, particularly in the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Several studies have demonstrated a strong association between smoking and the severity of COVID-19, which may lead to an increased risk of death. Smoking may also contribute to the spread of the virus through the gathering and sharing of tobacco among smokers.

As meaning is purely subjective and can vary from one person to another, this study aims to add new insights into the meaning of smoking as perceived by a new set of participants—farmworkers—whose age, educational, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds, and experiences may differ from those in previous studies. It explores why farmworkers in the Southern Philippines continue smoking despite known health risks and anti-smoking campaigns. The study focuses on how these workers perceive smoking as part of their daily lives.

Using a qualitative narrative inquiry approach, the researchers interviewed seven male farmworkers to understand their personal stories and experiences with smoking. The findings revealed that smoking, influenced by family and friends, holds deep meaning for these individuals. It plays a role in socializing and is ingrained as a part of their daily routine. Furthermore, it helps manage stress and negative emotions, and serves as a mental stimulant.

Despite health warnings and high cigarette prices, smoking remains a core part of the group’s identity and community life. This study shows that smoking is not just a habit but a deeply rooted cultural practice among farmworkers, strengthened by social norms and emotional connections. Understanding these personal and social meanings can help develop more culturally sensitive smoking cessation programs designed for specific communities. The insights from this study can guide policymakers and health professionals in creating more effective public health campaigns to reduce smoking among vulnerable groups, especially in rural farming areas.

Authors: Reymark P. Malinda (University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines-Jasaan) and Benjamina Paula G. Flor (University of the Philippines Los Baños)

Read the full paper: https://journal.usep.edu.ph/index.php/Southeastern_Philippines_Journal/article/view/457