Cultural Capital and Self-determined Behaviour: Conceptual and Empirical Evidence of Smoking Cessation in Egypt

<jats:sec><jats:title content-type="abstract-subheading">Purpose</jats:title> <jats:p>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.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec><jats:title content-type="abstract-subheading">Design/methodology/approach</jats:title> <jats:p>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.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec><jats:title content-type="abstract-subheading">Findings</jats:title> <jats:p>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.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec><jats:title content-type="abstract-subheading">Practical implications</jats:title> <jats:p>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.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec><jats:title content-type="abstract-subheading">Originality/value</jats:title> <jats:p>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.</jats:p> </jats:sec>