A Review of Life-Course Familial and Lifestyle Factors of Smoking Initiation and Cessation

Abstract

Smoking raises the risk of cardiovascular diseases in active and passive smokers throughout life. Taking a life-course approach, we reviewed current literature on the familial and lifestyle factors of smoking initiation and cessation. Single-parent and parental smoking are risk factors of smoking in young people, while smoking cessation of parents and family support predict quitting in both young and adult smokers. Results on the familial influences on relapses are limited and mixed in adolescents and adults. Regarding behavioral factors, poor eating habits and alcohol drinking would increase, and a high physical activity level would decrease, the likelihood of smoking in both adolescents and adults. Nutritional status of children improves with parental smoking cessation. In addition, disordered eating may hinder smoking cessation in women. Familial and behavioral factors interplay in their associations with smoking initiation and cessation in the life-course, which warranted further investigations for formulating better smoking prevention and cessation programs.