Self-concept and social comparison and their relation with smoking and alcohol consumption in adolescents

Abstract

Some attitudes that possess certain risks such as smoking and alcohol consumption rate are increasing among the adolescent age group. For this reason it is very important to shape the attitudes of adolescents during their growth period. The aim of this study is to investigate the association of social comparison and self-concept of adolescents' relation with smoking and alcohol consumption. Study was conducted as a prospective study in nine high schools which are located in city of Bursa, Turkey. Nine hundred and fifty-three (n=953) students were included. Data were gathered using a questionnaire form especially developed by researchers for this study according to relevant literature. For social comparison and self-concept evaluation Piers-Harris Self Concept Scale and Social Comparison Scale of Gilbert were used. The mean age was 15.74±1.27 and 411 of cases (43.1%) were male. It was determined that smoking and alcohol consumption increased as the age of adolescents' age increases. Rate of smoking and alcohol consumption was significantly higher in males compared to females. The mean self-concept scale score of the cases who smoke (52.30±11.01) were found to be lower than the non-smokers (56.07±10.13). The mean social comparison scale score of smoking adolescents' (70.25±23.99) was higher than the non-smokers (69.43±25.47). The social comparison scale scores were found to be higher in adolescents who consume alcohol and smoke tobacco. In contrast to this result self-concept scale scores were low. As a conclusion this study reveals that attitudes such as smoking and alcohol consumption are mostly influenced by self-concept of the adolescents and family attitudes towards adolescents.