目標：在健康不平等的研究中，對早期家庭生活所扮演的角色討論較有限，本研究以嚼檳榔行為例，分析影響嚼檳榔行為形成與持續的社會機制，主要藉由生命歷程(lifecourse)觀點來解釋研究結果。方法：研究者到計程車司機活動的場域(排班點與休息處)，透過深入訪談去收集相關資料。結果：本研究發現參與研究的計程車司機會開始嚼檳榔，主要是與其早期居住地的鄰里、社區之社會環境以及早期職業環境有關。在早期居住地的鄰里、社區之社會環境影響可以分為其成長於檳榔產區、家裡賣檳榔、以及男性家人給予等方面來說明。在早期職業環境影響可以分為體力勞動工作、與運輸相關的工作、以及社交應酬的工作。結論：從生命歷程的研究觀點，生命歷程不同階段所處的社會經濟位置，對健康行為的形成有不同的機制，司機們原生家庭的社會層級位置、早期職業環境脈絡與其開始嚼食檳榔行為有相關。透過此研究，對於早期生命歷程如何影響健康相關行為形成有初步的了解，期待未來有更多的相關研究，以便進一步釐清社會層級影響健康的機轉。

　　　　　Objectives: In health inequality research, there are few discussions of subjects in the early stages of family life. This study uses the approach of lifecourse to discuss the relationship between the early social status of areca quid-chewing taxi drivers and the development of their areca quid-chewing behavior. Methods: Data were collected through in-depth interviews with taxi drivers while they were relaxing or were waiting in lines in Taipei. Results: For those taxi drivers participating in this research, the start of their areca quid chewing was associated with the social context of their early residence and their early work environment. The factors that influenced the social context of their early residence included areca quid production areas near the areas where they grew up, their families who ran areca quid stalls, and male family members who were also areca quid chewers. The factors that influenced the early work context included physically demanding manual labor, transportation-related work, and a work-related social network. Conclusions: From the viewpoint of a lifecourse study, the socioeconomic positions that we assume in different stages of our life influence the formation of our health behavior. The social status of the taxi drivers’families of origin and their early work context are related to their adoption of areca quid chewing. This study gives a preliminary understanding of how social status affects the formation of health-related behavior, and we expect in the future there will be more related research to help us further clarify how social status shapes the decisions we make regarding our health.