Factors Causing the Failure of Parental Control over Adolescent Smoking Behavior in Jorong Gunung Bungsu

Abstract

Smoking behavior among adolescents in Gunung Bungsu is a social problem that has become increasingly alarming, particularly after primary education. Many adolescents in Jorong Gunung Bungsu smoke after primary education. The control exercised by parents to prevent adolescent smoking behavior weakens and fails after primary education. This study aims to identify the factors causing the failure of parental control over smoking behavior among adolescents after primary education in Jorong Gunung Bungsu, Batipuah Baruah Village, Batipuah District, Tanah Datar Regency, West Sumatra Province. This study employed a qualitative approach with a case study research design. Informants were selected using the snowball sampling technique, with a total of 22 informants consisting of 10 adolescent smokers, 2 non-smoking peers, and 10 parents of adolescent smokers. Data were collected through participant observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation. This study used Travis Hirschi's Social Control Theory as the analytical framework. The findings revealed six main factors causing the failure of parental control: (1) the presence of family members who smoke, thereby normalizing smoking behavior; (2) the strong influence of smoking peers in the school environment and new social circles; (3) boarding house environments that are free from direct parental supervision; (4) the construction of social identity that positions smoking as a symbol of masculinity and adulthood; (5) an increase in pocket money; and (6) smoking behavior that had begun secretly since primary school. These six factors simultaneously weakened the four elements of Hirschi's social bond theory, namely attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief, thereby causing parental control to lose its effectiveness during the educational transition period.