# Social Influence Strategies during a Web-based Smoking Prevention Intervention for Adolescents

> **NIH NIH R00** · UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA · 2021 · $248,999

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Negative influence from peers and friends is a well-known potent predictor of adolescent smoking initiation.
However, what is not known is how to design and implement an intervention that promotes positive social
influence for adolescents (i.e., connection with and support from others who do not intent to smoke). One
example of an intervention that lacks positive social influence is a Web-based, computer-tailored intervention
called A Smoking Prevention Interactive Experience (ASPIRE; developed by primary mentor). ASPIRE
includes a series of videos and activities with messages designed through the Trans-Theoretical Model of
Change. ASPIRE successfully provides adolescents individually with information on smoking risks, using
human-computer interaction. Still, for better outcomes, it can benefit from positive social influence through
peer-to-peer interaction. The long-term research goal is to develop, implement, and evaluate social influence
and behavioral interventions that can be applied to prevent the use of nicotine/tobacco products among
adolescents. One innovative approach to fill the gap is to apply social influence strategies. First, game-based
social activities (GSAs) can facilitate exploration of health information and drive social discussions against
smoking. Second, social network analysis allows us to strategically group at-risk adolescents (i.e., those who
intend to smoke), with close peers who do not intend to smoke (i.e., change agents), as they engage in
ASPIRE. Change agents will positively influence at-risk adolescents for two reasons: (1) At-risk adolescents
will be dominated in number by change agents, and (2) their interaction with change agents will be directed by
the healthy content of ASPIRE and the GSAs. The objective of the current research is to identify the effect of
ASPIRE on key mechanisms underlying adolescents’ intention to smoke nicotine/tobacco products (cigarettes,
cigars, hookah water pipes, and electronic cigarettes), when social influence strategies are added to the
intervention. The central hypothesis is that the addition of social influence strategies to ASPIRE will boost
ASPIRE’s success in lowering intention to smoke. This hypothesis has been formulated based on preliminary
data with ASPIRE and theoretical frameworks indicating how GSAs and social grouping can be successful.
The rationale is that new evidence will provide supportive data for the subsequent development and evaluation
of a social influence intervention for smoking prevention at the R01 level. The long-term career goal is to
become an independent researcher, expert in the design, implementation, and evaluation of interventions that
apply (1) social influence, (2) entertainment, and (3) technology for the prevention of nicotine/tobacco use
among adolescents. Along with mentorship, a comprehensive training plan is developed to tap on these 3
areas for the K99 phase, allowing a flawless transition to the R00 phase. Ulti...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10205010
- **Project number:** 5R00DA044277-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
- **Principal Investigator:** Georges Elias Khalil
- **Activity code:** R00 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $248,999
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-05-01 → 2023-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10205010

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10205010, Social Influence Strategies during a Web-based Smoking Prevention Intervention for Adolescents (5R00DA044277-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10205010. Licensed CC0.

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