Ballonnetje doen? Een Kwalitatief Determinantenonderzoek naar de Houding van Utrechtse Studenten ten aanzien van Recreatief Lachgasgebruik

Abstract

Recreational use of laughing gas is gaining popularity among young people in the Netherlands. This drug is unjustly seen as harmless, since recreational use can have serious consequences. Little research has been conducted into laughing gas and the behavioural intention of the youth. The educational project LOS wants to improve their education for UU students with regards to laughing gas. The aim of this study was twofold. Firstly, identifying the behavioural determinants which play a role in forming the behavioural intention of students with regards to laughing gas. Secondly, formulating implications for further development of the education of LOS. For this analysis, the stages of the Transtheoretical model of change (TTM) were integrated within the Attitude–Social influence–self-Efficacy (ASE) Model. Data was collected through questionnaires and seventeen semi-structured interviews, among six users, four ex-users and seven non-users. The data were analyzed using a systematic and inductive method. Results of this exploratory study showed that respondents did not regard laughing gas as something worth mentioning (attitude). Respondents also experienced a similarly indifferent stance among their friends (social influence). This stance of students and their friends seemed to be related to the idea that sporadic use of laughing gas is not harmful (self-efficacy). Another insightful result showed that students from Utrecht that use laughing gas only do this occasionally. Using the results of this study, implications were formulated for further development of the education on laughing gas of LOS, both for specific motivational stages and universal education. It seems important to focus on increasing the risk perception, especially for the group that uses laughing gas. While increasing skills that make people more resilient to peer pressure seemed important for all the participants.