Original article
Family and peer influences on smoking behavior among American adolescents: An age trend

https://doi.org/10.1016/1054-139X(94)00097-XGet rights and content

Purpose:

To study the age trend of family and peer influence on adolescent smoking behavior using a national sample.

Methods:

Adolescents (N = 6,900), ages 14 through 18 years, from the 1988-89 Teenage Attitudes and Practices Survey, were selected for analyses. Data collected included measures for smoking status of the adolescent and their family and peers.

Results:

Peer influence, such as the smoking status of best male/female friends, proved to be the most significant and consistent predictor across all ages, while parental influence had little effect on adolescent smoking status. Gender-specific effects were noted in the peer influence of adolescent smoking.

Conclusions:

The peer influence on adolescent smoking, across ages 14 through 18 years, confirmed previous literature. However, no differential effect of family and peer influence on adolescent smoking was evident.

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Cited by (150)

  • Protocol: A randomised controlled trial evaluation of Cancer Focus NI's 'Dead Cool' smoking prevention programme in post-primary schools

    2016, International Journal of Educational Research
    Citation Excerpt :

    This trial is an efficacy trial and has limited funding to explore clustering effects of the classroom/school setting. However, if Effect Sizes >0.5 then analysis will explore clustering effects of classroom/school on outcomes in the trial as peer influence has also been reported to be important in predicting adolescent smoking behaviours (Wang, Fitzhugh, Westerfield, & Eddy, 1995). This trial might be best described as a feasibility RCT which may establish what the likely Effect Sizes of the intervention are and would inform a future trial of materials if effects are positive.

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