Cigarette smoking among junior and senior high school students in Japan

doi:10.1016/1054-139X(95)00110-E

Journal of Adolescent Health

Volume 18, Issue 1, January 1996, Pages 59-65

https://doi.org/10.1016/1054-139X(95)00110-E Get rights and content

Purpose:

To estimate the smoking prevalence among junior and senior high school students in Japan.

Methods:

We conducted a nationwide survey of adolescent smoking habits in 1990. Sample schools were selected by single random sampling. Self-administered anonymous questionnaires were sent to sample schools for all students to fill out. Seventy junior high schools and 33 senior high schools responded. A total of 57,189 students responded.

Results:

The current smoking rate (the proportion of students who had smoked at least once during the previous month) was much higher among boys than girls. The current smoking rate among seventh graders was 4.0% for boys and 1.5% for girls, and it increased with age to reach 25.5% for boys and 4.9% for girls in the twelfth grade. The percentage of regular smokers in the seventh grade was less than 1% for both sexes, but it increased to 20.3% for boys and 2.2% for girls in twelfth grade. Among current smokers, the proportion of boys smoking 1–9 cigarettes per day decreased, and the proportion of boys smoking 10 or more cigarettes per day increased, as age increased. Most current smokers buy their cigarettes from cigarette vending machines or tobacconist shops.

Conclusions:

Since this survey reveals that smoking prevalence among students is not low even in junior high school, health education about smoking must start earlier and carry a greater emphasis within the curriculum. These results also indicate the importance of urging families to have greater concern for the smoking behavior of their children, of banning cigarette vending machines, and of preventing illegal sale of cigarettes to anyone under the age of 20 years.

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Sampling techniques

Cited by (37)

Comparison of the responses of cross-sectional web- and paper-based surveys on lifestyle behaviors of Japanese adolescents
2023, Preventive Medicine Reports
In Japan, paper-based surveys are currently more effective than web-based surveys. This study compared the response rates and lifestyle behaviors between paper- and web-based surveys conducted among Japanese junior and senior high schools.
In total, there were 42 and 64 junior and senior high schools, respectively, for the web-based surveys and 20 and 27 junior and senior high schools, respectively, for the paper-based surveys. The questionnaire covered lifestyle behaviors (e.g., alcohol consumption, smoking, exercise, eating, and sleep status), mental health, and plans to attend college. School- and student-level response rates by survey method were assessed, and so was the effect on the reporting of each lifestyle behavior using logistic regression models.
The school response rates were 16.0% and 38.3% for web- and paper-based surveys, respectively. The student response rates were 88.7% and 77.2%, respectively. The web-based group had significantly more female participants and lower response rates for higher grades in senior high schools. The odds of lifetime and current alcohol consumption and poor mental health were lower, whereas those of lifetime use of conventional cigarettes, shorter sleep duration, and plans to continue attending college were higher among web-based (vs. paper-based) participants.
The school response rate was poor in the web-based survey. However, whether the differences in lifestyle behavior are attributed to selection bias or the survey method remains unclear.
Gender differences in dietary behaviors among Japanese adolescents
2020, Preventive Medicine Reports
Citation Excerpt :
All the students in the sampled schools were the study participants. The sample size was determined by the response rate and confidence intervals based on the variance of the results obtained from a previous study (Osaki and Minowa, 1996). In the Japanese education system, children enter elementary school at the age of 6 years and leave after 6 years of study.
Unhealthy dietary behaviors in adolescence are an important public health problem. Gender differences in dietary behaviors have already appeared during adolescence. However, few studies have assessed a variety of adolescent dietary behaviors in Japan. We aimed to clarify gender differences in unhealthy dietary behaviors among Japanese adolescents. The participants consisted of 84,988 participants from seventh to 12th grades. Unhealthy dietary behaviors were defined according to the National Health and Nutrition Survey. Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze a nationally representative sample of Japanese adolescents from the 2014 to 2015 Lifestyle Survey. The effective response rate was 51.4%. The prevalence of unhealthy dietary behaviors (skipping breakfast, snacking, eating out, skipping meals, eating alone at dinner, and subjectively poor diet quality) among boys and girls was 14.2% versus 12.4%, 19.6% versus 14.1%, 10.6% versus 7.0%, 7.9% versus 5.6%, 13.3% versus 12.1%, and 12.3% versus 15.8%, respectively. Compared with boys, girls were more negatively associated with skipping breakfast [OR = 0.76 (95% CI 0.73–0.79)], snacking [OR = 0.67 (95% CI 0.65–0.70)], eating out [OR = 0.62 (95% CI 0.59–0.66)], skipping meals [OR = 0.61 (95% CI 0.58–0.65)], and eating alone at dinner [OR = 0.79 (95% CI 0.76–0.83)]. However, girls were more positively associated with subjectively poor diet quality [OR = 1.19 (95% CI 1.14.1.24)]. The findings suggest that gender differences existed in dietary behaviors. Gender differences in dietary behaviors suggest opportunities for tailoring interventions related to dietary education in schools.
The relationship between subjective happiness and sleep problems in Japanese adolescents
2020, Sleep Medicine
Citation Excerpt :
This method was used to limit sampling bias. The sample size was determined using the response rates and confidence intervals obtained from a previous study [30]. We sent a letter to the principals of selected schools requesting their cooperation, along with questionnaire forms and envelopes for enrolled students.
Low sleep quality in adolescents is an important public health concern, as it relates to both their current and future physical and mental health. Furthermore, subjective happiness is also often regarded as a major life goal. Although Japan is an economically powerful country, the reported levels of subjective happiness among Japanese adolescents is low. Thus, this study aims to examine the relationship between subjective happiness and sleep problems in Japanese adolescents.
We conducted a nationally representative cross-sectional study of adolescents enrolled in junior and senior high schools in Japan. We used a questionnaire to determine the prevalence of sleep problems (eg, insomnia, short sleep duration (SSD) and poor sleep quality) and to evaluate the participants' reported levels of subjective happiness. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to examine the associations between subjective happiness and sleep problems. Adjusted variables were basic demographic characteristics (eg, gender and school grade), lifestyle behaviors, and mental health status.
Data from 64,329 students were analyzed (age range 12–18 years, mean age 15.7 years, 53.9% male). The results indicated that reported levels of subjective happiness were strongly associated with the prevalence of sleep problems. Linear relationships can be observed between sleep problems and subjective happiness scores. The multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that dose–response association of subjective happiness score was observed with all three sleep problems.
Due to these findings, we recommend that policy makers and school officials educate adolescents on the importance of both subjective happiness and good sleep hygiene.
Socioeconomic pattern of smoking in Japan: Income inequality and gender and age differences
2005, Annals of Epidemiology
Citation Excerpt :
Price and tax measures are recognized as an important means of reducing tobacco consumption, the impact of which is greater for the young and lower SES populations (49,50). Second, vending machines are a huge problem, in particular for smoking in minors (51), and tobacco is actually sold to minors despite being illegal (52). Third, health education on smoking in schools is not sufficient, and the lack of health education is associated with a higher prevalence of smoking in students (53).
To elucidate the influence of individual socioeconomic status on smoking in Japanese adults.
Using a nationally representative sample (20,206 men and 21,093 women aged 18 to 54 years), the relation between smoking and socioeconomic characteristics was analyzed by sex and age group (18 to 24, 25 to 39, and over 40 years).
The smoking prevalence was 57.0% for men and 16.6% for women. Living in an urban area was a negative factor for smoking in men, while a positive factor in women. Being married was positively associated with smoking in the younger population, but negatively associated in the older population. A relation between lower income and smoking was found in all groups, except in men aged 18 to 24 years. The income-related difference was most pronounced in the population aged 25 to 39 years: OR of smoking for the highest income quintile compared with the lowest was 0.60 (95% CI, 0.51–0.71) for men and 0.29 (95% CI, 0.23–0.35) for women.
Socioeconomic status, especially income, substantially predicted smoking in the Japanese population, while the impact differed according to sex and age groups. Effective anti-smoking strategies require consideration of the gender and age differences in the socioeconomic pattern of smoking.
Cigarette brand preferences of smokers among university students in Japan
2004, Preventive Medicine
Background. A survey on smoking behavior and relating factors among university students is necessary for establishing antismoking measures toward younger generation. To determine brand preferences of young smokers, we conducted a cross-sectional survey for students in a university.
Methods. An anonymous questionnaire was completed by the students at their annual health examinations. A total of 5688 students out of 7136 responded this survey (79.7%). The questionnaire included questions about smoking status, number of cigarettes smoked, brand preference, etc.
Results. Smoking prevalence was 55.2% for males and 12.0% for females. Estimated consumption of Japanese-brand cigarettes was 46.8% for males and 36.1% for females, whereas that of American-brand cigarettes was 36.3% for males and 45.1% for females. These values are much higher than the market share of imported cigarettes in Japan (17.1% in 1992). Five American brands ranked in the top 10 brands among these university students, whereas only one American brand was ranked in the top 10 brands in the Japanese market in 1992. Smokers who prefer cigarettes with higher nicotine ratings were more likely to have a higher consumption rate than otherwise.
Conclusion. Cigarette brand preference is an important aspect to realize the smoking behavior among young smokers.
Smoking behavior, initiating and cessation factors among Japanese nurses: A cohort study
2002, Public Health
The prevalence of smoking among Japanese nurses, specially in their twenties, is higher than that among the general female population. To examine smoking behavior, smoking initiating and cessation factors, we conducted a cohort study through questionnaire survey, targeting nurses (n = 1572) working at 11 hospitals located in Tokyo metropolitan area. The first survey was conducted using a confidential questionnaire on smoking, followed by a second survey conducted in the same manner on the same subjects two years later. As to smoking status after two years, 8% (95%CI = 1.5%) started smoking and 6% (95%CI = 1.4%) quitted resulting in a 2% increase in the prevalence of current smoking. The average nicotine dependence for nurses who were smokers in the two surveys rose from 3.9 to 4.3 (P < 0.05). Smoking behavior of mother, friends, or superiors at work had a significant influence on smoking behavior of nurses. As to smoking cessation factors, the idea that women and medical workers should not smoke, and living with family each had a significant influence. Considering the fact that 6% of nurses in this study succeeded in quitting smoking within two years, it is required that anti-smoking education be conducted at medical institutions to decrease the prevalence of current smoking among the nurses in Japan.
Public Health (2002) 116, 347–352.

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: This survey was supported through a grant from the Japan Heart Foundation.

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International articleCigarette smoking among junior and senior high school students in Japan

Purpose:

Methods:

Results:

Conclusions:

Nationwide Tobacco Smoking Survey in 1990

National status on nutrition in 1988

Standardization of definitions concerning smoking behavior among Japanese adolescents—results from the Japan Adolescent Smoking Survey (JASS)

Japanese J Public Health

Smoking and alcohol drinking behavior among Japanese adolescents—results from “Japan Know Your Body Study”

Japanese J Public Health

Smoking and its control in Japan

A study on actual situation of youth smoking in Japan with reference to smoking rate and smoking conditions among senior high school students

Japanese J School Health

Smoking among senior high school students and the relating factors—Report 1. Factors related with the onset and continuation of smoking

Japanese J School Health

Outline of education in Japan 1991

National School Directory 1991

Standardization of definitions concerning smoking behavior among Japanese adolescents—results from the Japan Adolescent Smoking Survey (JASS)

Japanese J Pub Health

Sampling techniques

International article
Cigarette smoking among junior and senior high school students in Japan