Adolescents' smoking behavior and attitudes: The influence of mothers' smoking communication, behavior and attitudes

Abstract

This study investigated adolescents' and parents' perceptions regarding smoking behavior, attitudes toward smoking, and smoking communication. Instruments were developed to measure multidimensional smoking communication messages and smoking attitudes in 140 mother–adolescent dyads. The prediction of relevant adolescent smoking variables is multifaceted and complex. Results indicated that adolescents' smoking behavior was related to adolescents' smoking attitudes and adolescents' perceptions of mothers' smoking related inquiries. Adolescents' smoking attitudes were related to mothers' smoking attitudes and adolescents' perceptions of mothers' smoking related inquiries and consistent and credible anti-smoking messages. Adolescents' perceptions of mothers' anti-smoking messages were related to mothers' smoking behavior. Adolescents' perceptions of mothers' smoking rules and mothers' reports of anti-smoking involvement and smoking rules were related to mothers' smoking behavior and attitudes. Mothers' reports of pro-smoking messages were related to their smoking attitudes. The present research suggests that the adolescent–mother smoking communication process is an important area to further explore in understanding adolescents' smoking behavior.