Young Pandas Cheat and Smoke: A Social Control Theory Explanation of Chinese University Students' Exam Cheating and Smoking

This study tested a social control theory model in an attempt to partially explain exam cheating and smoking utilizing data collected from Chinese university students in two separate provinces. Measures included indicators of attachment, commitment, belief, and demographic controls. Generally, students that were attached and committed to their schools were associated with lower odds of exam cheating. Further, males who were attached to their parents were associated with lower odds of initiating smoking. However, delinquent peer attachment increased the odds that males would smoke. Implications of these results are discussed.This study tested a social control theory model in an attempt to partially explain exam cheating and smoking utilizing data collected from Chinese university students in two separate provinces. Measures included indicators of attachment, commitment, belief, and demographic controls. Generally, students that were attached and committed to their schools were associated with lower odds of exam cheating. Further, males who were attached to their parents were associated with lower odds of initiating smoking. However, delinquent peer attachment increased the odds that males would smoke. Implications of these results are discussed.