Variables related to tobacco use among young adults: are there differences between males and females?

We sought to determine the association of four categories (chunks) of variables: (1) demographic characteristics, (2) family and friends smoking and other drug use, (3) psychosocial factors and attitude, and (4) lifestyle factors to current smoking as compared to never smoking among Canadian young adults. A cohort of 1270 young adults, followed for 10 years, completed a self-administered questionnaire. In multivariable analyses, the best final model for both genders did not include the psychosocial and attitudinal categories, but did contain variables in the demographic, family and friends, and lifestyle categories. Interventions for reducing smoking among young adults may be similar for males and females, a conclusion that differs from conclusions based on findings from younger age groups.

The potential effectiveness of warning labels on cigarette packages: the perceptions of young adult Canadians.

BACKGROUND: Since 1989 when health warning labels appeared on Canadian cigarette packages, the labels have changed from text only covering less than one quarter of the package to text and graphics covering over half the package. This study examines how Canadians in their 20s feel about the current graphic warning labels and their potential to prevent smoking and encourage quitting. METHODS: Participants between 20 and 24 years of age were part of a 10-year cohort study begun when the group was in Grade 6, with the purpose of examining factors that may affect smoking. Five questions about warning labels were added to the 2002 questionnaire requesting information on perceptions of the labels and their potential impact on smoking behaviours of young adults. One item had been included in previous questionnaires. RESULTS: 32.8% (n = 1267) of the respondents were smokers, with males (35.6%) being more likely to smoke than females (30.4%). Current smokers were less likely than experimental/ex-smokers to believe that warning labels with stronger messages would make people their age less likely to smoke. Female current smokers were more likely to think about quitting. CONCLUSION: Despite the efforts taken in developing the labels, some young adults are skeptical about their effects. Warning labels may have to be modified to target issues that are relevant to young adults; gender differences are important in this modification. Warning labels can offer an additional component to a comprehensive tobacco control program, in that they provide health information.

Psychosocial variables in a cohort of students in grades 8 and 11: a comparison of current and never smokers.

BACKGROUND: Specific hypotheses regarding putative mechanisms by which stressful life events might be related to smoking initiation among adolescents have been tested cross-sectionally on a cohort of 1598 grade 6 students in Scarborough, Canada. The purpose of this study was to examine the utility of these cross-sectional models in accounting for current smoking as compared to never smoking when this cohort was in grades 8 and 11. METHODS: Current smoking was defined as reported regular or occasional smoking. Logistic regression and multiple regression models were tested separately for each gender and grade with variables entered in prespecified steps. RESULTS: Current smoking is more strongly related to psychosocial variables and environmental variables among older male adolescents as compared to younger ones. In older female adolescents, current smoking appears to be more strongly related to attitude variables and less strongly related to psychosocial variables than among younger female adolescents. There is some evidence that grade 11 males may use cigarettes as a coping strategy for depression. CONCLUSIONS: Male and female students differ in how stress and a range of psychosocial factors are interrelated with regards to current smoking and these relationships appear to change over time.

Does a relationship exist between body weight, concerns about weight, and smoking among adolescents? An integration of the literature with an emphasis on gender.

It has been speculated that body weight and concern about body weight are important factors in initiation of tobacco use among adolescents, particularly females. An examination of studies that have explored these relationships can provide important information on possible underlying mechanisms that could be used for prevention interventions. This review summarizes recent studies examining weight concerns and youth smoking, with a focus on gender differences. These studies were integrated with the few studies that have examined the relationship between actual body weight and smoking among adolescents. A total of 55 primary research articles met inclusion criteria for the review. Of these, 19 studies assessed the relationship between body weight and smoking, and 50 studies addressed weight concerns and smoking. Some evidence indicated a positive relationship between smoking and body weight among adolescents, although not all studies found a positive association. In terms of the relationship between weight concerns and adolescent smoking, the amount of evidence supporting a positive association differed depending on the dimension of weight concern considered, with the strongest evidence for dieting behaviors. For dieting behaviors, disordered eating symptoms, and some aspects of general weight concerns, the positive relationship with smoking was more consistent among female adolescents than among male adolescents. Possible explanations for these findings are discussed, and priorities for future research are identified.