Cultural capital and self-determined behaviour: conceptual and empirical evidence of smoking cessation in Egypt

Purpose Despite the prevalence of tobacco use, Egypt lacked smoking cessation treatments to combat the nation’s rising smoking population and studies on smoking cessation were limited in the majority of low- and middle-income countries. This study aims to examine the impact of Cultural Capital and Self-determination Theory on smoking cessation behaviour. Design/methodology/approach This study adopted a quantitative research approach to test the conceptual framework. Data were collected using two sampling methods: a random sample in the first phase followed by a snowball strategy. A total of 569 ex-smokers who had successfully stopped smoking completed self-administered questionnaires. Structural equation modelling was adopted for the data analysis. Findings The findings of this study indicate that the accumulation of Cultural Capital could serve as an independent cause for successful smoking cessation behaviour in Egypt. Practical implications Egypt should invest in cultural activities and educational establishments, which not only help its smoking population acquire new skills but also contribute to successful and sustained smoking cessation. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to expand Self-determination Theory and combine Cultural Capital to understand successful smoking cessation behaviour. While most studies focused on current smokers and intentions to quit, this study assessed ex-smokers who had successfully ceased smoking. It confirmed that Cultural Capital alone could contribute to behavioural and sustained behavioural change.