Smoking Bystander Intervention Self-Efficacy Scale Development

background. Bystander intervention has been studied as a protective strategy for several health behaviors; however, minimal literature addresses it in regard to smoking. In environments where policy does not provide individual protection, bystander intervention may offer means through which a person can protect themselves and others from secondhand smoke. The purpose of this study was to develop a scale measuring bystanders’ self-efficacy to ask someone to stop smoking in defined locations and situations.

methods. Literature regarding locations where people smoke informed items to be included on the scale.  Using a cross-sectional survey analysis of students from a southern university (n=824), we assessed reliability and validity of the scale, via internal consistency and exploratory factor analysis.  

results. A three factor model emerged from 23 scale items. The factors loaded by places and situations with significant loadings (>.47) of self-efficacy to engage in bystander intervention. The factors were labeled high ownership (i.e. in my car), shared ownership (i.e. in the person’s home who is smoking), and general public (i.e. at a park or playground) and explained 3.4%, 3.5% and 8% of the variance, respectively.

conclusion. As smoking policies shape cultural norms, people may engage in bystander intervention more often to protect their health and the health of others. Based on our exploratory model, the level of ownership a person feels towards locations or people may empower self-efficacy to ask others to not smoke. Using our Smoking Bystander Intervention Self-Efficacy Scale, future research may explore the longitudinal changes of smoking bystander intervention self-efficacy.