The relative contributions of parenting practices in smoking behavior of adolescents with and without asthma

Abstract

This study tested associations between general parenting dimensions, antismoking socialization practices, and parental smoking status on the one hand and adolescent smoking on the other. These associations were examined within asthmatic adolescents, a group particularly vulnerable to the effects of smoking. Participants were 9,008 young adolescents (aged 11-16 years) from the Netherlands. Associations between factors were tested separately as well as in a combined model using multiple logistic regression analyses. Adolescents with current asthma were more at risk of being current regular smokers. Higher scores on parental involvement and strictness, antismoking socialization, and parental smoking abstinence were associated with lower odds of adolescent smoking. Parents of asthmatic adolescents were more likely to use involvement and strictness. Despite the increased health risks of smoking for people with asthma, parents of asthmatic children were generally not more engaged in antismoking socialization; they just talked more about not smoking. Furthermore, parents of adolescents with asthma were more likely to smoke than were parents of adolescents without asthma. In general, multiple logistic regression analyses showed similar effects for nonasthmatic and asthmatic adolescents. Diagnosis of asthma should be followed by suggestions for parents on how to use antismoking socialization (e.g., setting rules). In addition, the importance of having nonsmoking parents in smoking prevention should be emphasized.