Cigarette Smoking Behavior Research Articles

A novel smoking-specific self-control task: An initial study of feasibility, acceptability, and changes in self-control and cigarette smoking behaviors among adults using cigarettes.

Objective: Self-control is a key factor in quitting cigarettes and practicing general self-control tasks may strengthen self-control. This study examined the feasibility and acceptability of a novel smoking-related self-control task. Method: Seventy-five adults with current cigarette smoking (Mage = 44.8, 74.7% male, 63.5% Black, 74.3% non-Latinx) were randomly assigned to practice a smoking-specific self-control task (Delay Smoking Task, n = 39) or a general self-control task (Posture Task, n = 36) for 1 week. Assessments included cigarettes per day (CPD), motivation to quit smoking, self-control, and task acceptability. Results: Most participants completed both appointments with no difference between task groups (p = .69). The Delay Smoking Task group rated the task as more difficult (p = .04) and more helpful for quitting smoking (p = .005) than did the Posture Task group. Self-control task groups did not differ in task effort (p = .66), task success (p = .14), or self-control used to practice the task (p = .13). Both task groups reported increased quit desire, expected quit success, quit confidence, and quit motivation (p < .05; partial η²s = 0.108-0.333). The time by task group interaction approached significance for expected quit success (p = .06; partial η² = .053), with the Delay Smoking Task group showing greater increases than the Posture Task group. Over the week, smoking decreased an average of 1.0 CPD with no difference between groups (p = .72; partial η² = 0.165). Conclusions: Practicing self-control was associated with increases in motivation to quit, confidence in quitting, and expected success at quitting smoking with similar changes for those practicing a smoking-specific versus a general self-control task. Self-control tasks may be useful for increasing motivation to quit cigarettes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Determinan perilaku merokok pada siswa MTSS Alue Bilie Kecamatan Darul Makmur Kabupaten Nagan Raya

Background: Smoking behavior is the main cause of adolescent health problems in the world such as upper respiratory infections, bronchitis, and pneumonia. Adolescent smoking behavior is influenced by knowledge, attitudes, extracurricular activities, cigarette advertisements, the influence of parents and peers.Objective: This study aims to determine the determinants of smoking behavior in MTSS Alue Bilie students, Darul Makmur District, Nagan Raya Regency.Method: The research method uses comprehensive analytic with a cross sectional approach. The population is all class students at MTSS Alue Bilie from grades VII and VIII totaling 40 male students. Sampling using the total population technique. Data analysis used univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analysis.Results: Based on the results of the study, it was found that there was a relationship between knowledge and smoking behavior (ρ=0.001), there was a relationship between attitudes towards smoking behavior (ρ= 0.004, there was a relationship between cigarette advertising and smoking behavior (ρ= 0.003), there was a peer relationship with smoking behavior. (ρ= 0.004), and there is a parental relationship to smoking behavior (ρ= 0.042). The determinant factor that has the greatest relationship to smoking behavior is knowledge with an OR= 13.9.Conclusion: Positive attitudes had a 2.24 times relationship to the participation of pregnant women in hepatitis B screening than negative attitudes.

Electronic nicotine delivery systems use predicts transitions in cigarette smoking among young adults

BackgroundAlthough cigarette smoking during young adulthood is characterized by volatility, few studies examine if use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) impacts transitions in cigarette use behaviors across this developmental period. The purpose of this longitudinal study was to examine the role of ENDS use on three transitions in cigarette smoking among young adults; initiation, desistance, and re-uptake. Methods: Participants were 5029 18–29-year-olds (64.2% female) enrolled in one of 24 Texas colleges at baseline and involved in an eight-wave, 4.5-year study. A multi-state, continuous time Markov model was used to assess the role of current/past 30-day and ever ENDS use on three transitions, spanning at least six months 1) never to current smoking (initiation); 2) current to non-current smoking (desistance); and 3) non-current to current smoking (re-uptake). The model also contained time-invariant socio-demographic, and time-varying intrapersonal (other tobacco use, nicotine dependence, sensation seeking, depressive symptoms) and interpersonal (peer cigarette use) covariates. Results: Both current and ever ENDS use increased the probability of transitioning from never to current cigarette use (initiation) and decreased the probability of transitioning from current to non-current use (desistance). Current, but not ever, ENDS use also increased the probability of transitioning from non-current to current use (re-uptake). Adjustment for socio-demographic, intrapersonal, and interpersonal covariates did not alter these findings. Discussion: ENDS use in young adulthood increases the risk for cigarette smoking behaviors across the continuum of uptake and progression. Prevention and cessation efforts targeting both ENDS and cigarette use during young adulthood are needed.

Factors Related to Adolescent Smoking: A Nationally Representative Cross-Sectional Study in Thailand

Objective: This study aimed to explore the individual, familial, and social factors associated with different smoking status in Thai adolescents from the 2017 Cigarette Smoking and Alcohol Drinking Behavior Survey (CSAD)&#x0D; Methods: The nationally representative sample of 6046 adolescents aged 15-19 years who took part in the 2017 CSAD in Thailand. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore the associations between the individual, familial, and social factors and different smoking status. &#x0D; Results: The daily smoking and occasional smoking was 6.4% and 3.3%, respectively. Gender, alcohol use, substance use, attitudes toward smoking, exposure to secondhand smoke at home, anti-smoking social media campaign, and graphic warning labels were related to both daily and occasional smoking. Daily smoking was associated with exposure to secondhand smoke at school, restaurant, and public transport, and exposure to tobacco advertising.&#x0D; Conclusion: These findings suggest that smoking prevention intervention should particularly focus on these factors and also need to develop the anti-smoking policies for smoking prevention among adolescents.

Impacts of COVID-19 on cigarette use, smoking behaviors, and tobacco purchasing behaviors

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant global impact. As a respiratory illness, COVID-19 may pose unique risks to cigarette smokers. This study used concept mapping, a mixed-method participatory approach, to identify impacts of COVID-19 on cigarette smokers. MethodsCigarette smokers across the United States (U.S.) were recruited to complete this online, multi-step study. Of the 126 participants who were invited to participate in this study, 91 participants (mean age = 40.9; SD = 11.3) completed at least one of the three study tasks (i.e., brainstorming, sorting, and rating). Participants completed a brief demographic survey and brainstormed statements that completed a focus prompt: “A specific way that Coronavirus/COVID-19 has impacted/affected my cigarette use, smoking behaviors, tobacco purchasing behaviors, and/or other tobacco-related behaviors is.” After duplicate statements were removed, participants sorted the final list of 87 statements by similarity of content and rated how true statements were from them (1-Definitely NOT true to 7-Definitely true). ResultsNine thematic clusters were identified: Smoking More, Smoking to Cope/Reduce Stress, Change in Smoking Behaviors Due to COVID-19, Concerns about Smoking and COVID-19 Risk, Social Impacts, Maintaining and Rationing Cigarette Supply, Impacts on Obtaining Cigarettes, Use of Other Tobacco Products/Drugs, and Minimal/No Impacts/Concerns of COVID-19. The highest rated cluster (i.e., most true) was the Smoking More cluster followed by the Concerns about Smoking and COVID-19 Risk cluster. The highest rated statement in the study was the statement “Smoking keeps me calm”. ConclusionsCigarette smokers may endure additional impacts of COVID-19, such as increased COVID-19 health burdens, stressors related to risk of exposure, social stigma and isolation, financial burdens, and increased toxicant exposure from increased smoking frequency.

Examining Menthol Preference as a Correlate of Change in Cigarette Smoking Behavior over a One-Year Period.

Menthol cigarette use has been shown to be a contributing factor in the changes in smoking over time among youth. The current study aim was to use prospective survey data to identify if menthol cigarette use was associated with changes in smoking among adults. A representative cohort from the 2010 U.S. Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey was interviewed at two time points one year apart. Respondents were past-30-day cigarette smokers at Wave 1 or Wave 2 categorized by menthol vs. non-menthol flavor preference (n = 3668). Trajectories were categorized as maintained, increased, or decreased smoking behavior between Waves. Multinomial logistic regressions examined if menthol cigarette use was associated with an increase/decrease in smoking behavior, adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, and sex. Menthol cigarette use was not associated with change over time in cigarette smoking in adult smokers. Age, race/ethnicity and sex were associated with changes in cigarette smoking. Young (vs. older) adults were more likely to increase smoking. Black and Hispanic smokers (vs. white smokers) were more likely to report any change in smoking. Males were less likely than females to change smoking behavior. Menthol status was not associated with changes in smoking among adults; however, young age, race/ethnicity, and sex were, suggesting populations to target for intervention.

Oral Health Effects among Conventional Cigarette and Electronic Cigarette Smoking among Users in Saudi Arabia

Introduction: The use of e cigarettes is on the rise in the Middle East Countries and Saudi Arabia especially.This study aims to evaluate the oral mucosal lesions caused due to electronic cigarette smoking (ECS) use and oral health, including ‘gingival pain and/or bleeding’, ‘tongue and/or inside-cheek pain’, and ‘cracked or broken teeth’ among adolescents.&#x0D; Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted among 1300 participant in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia using a reliable and valid online questionnaire. The questionnaire was developed by the investigators and Google forms were used to collect the information. The questions were grouped into categories relating to socio-demographic data (age, gender), type of cigarette smoking (conventional, E-cigarette or booth), and cigarette smoking behavior (frequency).&#x0D; Results: It was observed from the present study that even though oral mucosal lesions were more in conventional cigarette smokers but e cigarettes were not the safe option as it has ill effects also. Females used e cigarettes more (30.7%) as compared to males (28.2%). Statistically significant results were obtained for change in color of gingival, disturbed feeling in the tongue (p&lt;0.000).&#x0D; Conclusion: The usage of e cigarettes was seen more among females than males. The oral health effects and especially the change in color, dryness of the oral cavity and discoloration of the teeth were seen more with the conventional cigarettes users than the e cigarettes users. E cigarettes were also associated with ill effects of the oral cavity.

A preliminary study of association of cigarette smoking with risk of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder.

Various studies have revealed an association between cigarette smoking and increased risk for multiple sclerosis (MS). However, its role in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) remains elusive. Therefore, in the present case-control study, we aimed to assess the association of active and passive cigarette smoking with the risk of MS and NMOSD.Thirty-six patients with NMOSD, 46 patients with MS, and 122 healthy individuals were included in this study. Standardized questionnaires and telephone interviews were used to collect information regarding the active and passive cigarette smoking behaviors of the patients and normal controls.The risk of MS was significantly higher among smokers than among nonsmokers (odds ratio = 2.166, 95% confidence interval: 1.109–4.170; P = .027). Further analysis of the risk between active and passive smokers, male smokers and nonsmokers showed no statistical difference. However, neither smokers nor active smokers had a greater or lower risk of NMOSD than their nonsmoking counterparts.Our preliminary study showed no significant association between cigarette smoking and the risk of NMOSD, strongly suggesting that, unlike MS, cigarette smoking might not confer NMOSD susceptibility, at least in the Northern Han Chinese population.

Effects of the Brazilian tax reform plans on the tobacco market

BackgroundThere has been an intense debate in the Brazilian National Congress on how to reform the country’s tax system on consumption. This paper investigates the effects of the tax reform...

Sexual Experience, Suicidal Behaviors and Depression Association, and Its Tendency to Lead to Smoking and Alcohol Consumption among Korean Adolescents

In numerous published findings, the cohesion was they have treated sexual experience, suicidal behaviors and depression, as the outcome variables and regard substance use as the core factors. In this study, we aim to do the opposite. We seek to make sense of the linkage by inversing the analytical direction. We intend to examine the association and the likelihood, and observe the levels to which sexual experience, suicidal behaviors, and depression may play a part in the odds of smoking and alcohol drinking among middle school and high school Korean students. The data obtained were cross-sectional from the 2019 Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey, participated by 57, 303 Korean adolescents. Among which are male 52.1%, female 47.9%, ages 15 below 59.2 % and 15 above 40.4%. This study utilized descriptive, Chi-square, and logistic regression analyses. Our basic findings signified that sexual experience and mental health problems doubled the odds of motivation. Chi-square analyses asserted that the association was statistically significant. All variables were notably correlated to substance use at 0.01 level, that is, when sexual experience, suicidal behaviors, and depression tend to increase, there was a high risk of using substances. The results for logistic regression on alcohol drinking, the -2LL statistic is 73157.25, the Cox &amp; Snell R2 is 0.057, and Nagelkerke R2 is 0.078 having the df of 1, with the p value of 0.000l, and the -2LL statistic is 39022.46, the Cox &amp; Snell R2 is 0.064, and Nagelkerke R2 is 0.122 having the df of 1, with the p value of 0.000 for smoking, predicted the maximum likelihood and considerably identified as positive significant indicators in the onset of substance initiation. This study also found that sexual experience had remained robustly substantial with the odds of smoking and drinking, that is, participants with higher sexual experience had the strongest likelihood of substance use motivation. Our overall results contribute to the debate by treating sexual experience, suicidal behaviors, and depression as precedent significant risk factors for developing substance use behaviors among Korean adolescents. For efficient and effective management of sexual experience, suicidal behaviors and depression on teenagers, findings underscore the need for early detection on adolescents at risk. A comprehensive prevention and protective efforts is required along with continuous parental guidance. Intervention programs with coping skills to handle emotional and behavioral problems is essential to help reduce the probability of an increased risk factors and subsequently lessen the threat for developing cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking behaviors among teenagers. School-based programs that can create synergy by embedding teenagers in an academic environment that is equally supportive, beneficial and can help promote a positive mindset is recommended.

Cigarette Prices and Smoking Behavior in Israel: Findings from a National Study of Adults (2002-2017).

Tobacco taxation and price policies are considered the most effective for lowering demand for tobacco products. While this statement is based on research from numerous countries, scant evidence exists on this topic for Israel. Accordingly, we assessed the association between cigarette prices and smoking prevalence and intensity from a national sample of adults in Israel (2002–2017). Data on smoking behavior were derived from the Israeli Knowledge Attitudes and Practices (KAP) survey, a repeated cross-sectional survey. Price information is from the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) since it was not collected in the KAP survey. We used the price of a pack of 20 cigarettes for Marlboro and the local brand. These two price variables were the primary independent variables, and we adjusted for inflation. The dependent variables were current smoking (yes/no) and smoking intensity, defined as the number of cigarettes smoked per week. Multivariable analysis was employed using a two-part model while adjusting for covariates. The first step of the model utilized logistic regression with current smoking as the dependent variable. The second step examining smoking intensity as the dependent variable, used OLS regression. Price elasticity was estimated as well. Analysis revealed that a one-unit increase (Israeli currency) in the price of local brand of cigarettes was related to 2.0% (OR = 0.98; 95%CI 0.98, 0.99) lower odds of being a current smoker, adjusting for covariates including household income. Moreover, a one unit increase in the price of the local brand of cigarettes was related to consuming 1.49 (95% CI −1.97, −1.00) fewer weekly cigarettes, controlling for household income and covariates. Similar results were found with the Marlboro cigarette prices. The total price elasticity of cigarette demand, given by the sum of price elasticities of smoking prevalence and intensity, showed that a 10.0% increase in the price is associated with a 4.6–9.2% lower cigarette consumption among Israeli adults. Thus, increasing cigarette prices will likely lead to a reduction in cigarette smoking thereby improving public health in Israel.

Impact of smoked cannabis on tobacco cigarette smoking intensity and subjective effects: A placebo-controlled, double-blind, within-subjects human laboratory study.

Co-users of cannabis and tobacco frequently use cannabis, then tobacco cigarettes, in a sequential pattern within an occasion, that is, they "chase" smoked cannabis with a tobacco cigarette. The objective of this placebo-controlled, double-blind, within-subjects human laboratory study was to gather preliminary data on how smoking active versus placebo cannabis impacts tobacco cigarette smoking behavior, craving, and subjective effects. Adult daily cannabis and tobacco co-users (N = 9) were randomly assigned to two experimental visit orders (i.e., active cannabis (5.2% THC) first visit and placebo cannabis second visit, or vice versa). Participants smoked one cannabis cigarette, and approximately 30 min later were given a 5-min ad libitum period to smoke one of their own brand of tobacco cigarette. As expected, boost in plasma THC levels and cannabis-related subjective effects differed between active and placebo cannabis conditions. Tobacco cigarette puff topography measures and tobacco craving did not differ between cannabis conditions, but there appeared to be between-participants heterogeneity in cumulative total puff volume. After smoking active versus placebo cannabis, the changes in subjective effects of tobacco smoking after adjusting for pretobacco smoking levels were not significant. Results do not support the notion that immediate effects of smoked cannabis change the behavior of tobacco smoking. The strong overlap between cannabis and tobacco smoking may not be explained by primarily pharmacological factors, but may be driven by more nuanced and complex mechanisms involving pharmacological processes as well as learning factors. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Estimating the impact of state cigarette tax rates on smoking behavior: Addressing endogeneity using a natural experiment

IntroductionCigarette excise taxes are a well-established policy lever for reducing tobacco use. However, estimating the effect of taxes on smoking behavior can be confounded by endogeneity concerns such as selection. This study leverages a unique natural experiment –compulsory relocation of U.S. military service members to installations – to estimate the relationship between state cigarette taxes and smoking behavior without concerns about selection into environments. MethodsThe current study uses data from the Department of Defense’s 2011 Health-Related Behaviors Survey and 2011 state cigarette excise taxes from the CDC STATE System. Logistic and Poisson regression analyses estimate the cross-sectional associations between state cigarette excise taxes and the following smoking behaviors: current cigarette smoking, frequency of smoking, heaviness of consumption, and cigarette cessation among individuals who smoked while at the current installation. ResultsHigher taxes are associated with lower odds of current cigarette smoking (AOR = 0.94; 95 % CI: 0.89−0.98), fewer smoking days per month among current cigarette smokers (IRR = 0.98, 95 % CI 0.97−0.996), and higher likelihood of quitting smoking among individuals who had smoked at their current installation (AOR = 1.14, 95 % CI 1.05–1.25). Taxes are not associated with the number of cigarettes smoked per day among current smokers. ConclusionsExogenous assignment to installations in states with higher cigarette taxes is associated with lower likelihood of smoking and greater likelihood of quitting. Findings provide novel evidence in support of a causal impact of cigarette taxes on lower smoking levels among adults.

Associations of County Tobacco Retailer Availability With U.S. Adult Smoking Behaviors, 2014–2015

Greater availability of tobacco product retailers in an area may be associated with smoking behaviors, and the majority of people who smoke purchase their cigarettes at gas stations and convenience stores. This cross-sectional study investigates the associations of overall tobacco retailer density and gas/convenience density with adult smoking behaviors. This study built a list of tobacco retailers in 2014 and calculated the county-level number of retailers per 1,000 people. Individual-level smoking behavior data were drawn from the 2014-2015 Tobacco Use Supplement for a sample of adults (n=88,850) residing in metropolitan counties across the U.S. General estimating equation models were fit to investigate the associations between retailer density and cigarette smoking behaviors (smoking status, quit attempt, quit length). Analyses were conducted in 2020. A greater number of tobacco retailers (AOR=1.63, 95% CI=1.35, 1.96) and gas stations and convenience stores (AOR=3.29, 95% CI=2.39, 4.52) per 1,000 people were each associated with a higher odds of a respondent smoking every day than the odds of a respondent not smoking. In addition, both measures were associated with a higher odds of a respondent being an every-day than being a some-day smoker. Associations for gas/convenience density were similar in models that additionally controlled for other tobacco retailers (excluding gas/convenience). Study results did not support associations between retailer density and cessation. Tobacco retailer density, especially gas/convenience density, is correlated with daily smoking, the most harmful tobacco use behavior. Calculating tobacco retailer density using gas/convenience stores may be a feasible proxy for overall tobacco retailer density.

Association of assisted reproductive technology, germline de novo mutations and congenital heart defects in a prospective birth cohort study.

Emerging evidence suggests that children conceived through assisted reproductive technology (ART) have a higher risk of congenital heart defects (CHDs) even when there is no family history. De novo mutation (DNM) is a well-known cause of sporadic congenital diseases; however, whether ART procedures increase the number of germline DNM (gDNM) has not yet been well studied. Here, we performed whole-genome sequencing of 1137 individuals from 160 families conceived through ART and 205 families conceived spontaneously. Children conceived via ART carried 4.59 more gDNMs than children conceived spontaneously, including 3.32 paternal and 1.26 maternal DNMs, after correcting for parental age at conception, cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking, and exercise behaviors. Paternal DNMs in offspring conceived via ART are characterized by C>T substitutions at CpG sites, which potentially affect protein-coding genes and are significantly associated with the increased risk of CHD. In addition, the accumulation of non-coding functional mutations was independently associated with CHD and 87.9% of the mutations were originated from the father. Among ART offspring, infertility of the father was associated with elevated paternal DNMs; usage of both recombinant and urinary follicle-stimulating hormone and high-dosage human chorionic gonadotropin trigger was associated with an increase of maternal DNMs. In sum, the increased gDNMs in offspring conceived by ART were primarily originated from fathers, indicating that ART itself may not be a major reason for the accumulation of gDNMs. Our findings emphasize the importance of evaluating the germline status of the fathers in families with the use of ART.

The impact of minimum wage increases on cigarette smoking.

Recent debate about raising federal minimum wage to $15 per hour receives substantial public attention. Yet the minimum wage literature has been focusing on the labor market outcomes, with the health implications rarely being discussed. This paper investigates the impact of minimum wage increases on multiple dimensions of cigarette smoking behaviors for the low-skilled population using the Current Population Survey-Tobacco Use Supplement over a long time period (1998-2015). Results show that a $1 increase in the minimum wage raises the prevalence of smoking by about 2.3% and reduces cessation by about 13.7% among the low-skilled workers. With further examinations, we find evidence of an income effect as one potential mechanism that leads to more smoking. The impacts on all low-skilled adults, however, are somewhat smaller, which are most likely driven by the null effects among those who are out of the labor force. We additionally conduct a series of sensitivity tests and confirm the robustness of these results.

The effects of psychological stress on approach tendencies for smoking-related cues in smokers.

Stress may potentiate the chronification of nicotine addiction, but the exact mechanisms remain elusive. We performed an explorative pilot study examining the effects of psychological stress, administered via the socially evaluated cold pressor task (SECPT), on implicit approach bias for smoking-related cues in smokers in the approach-avoidance task (AAT). Smokers (N=24) were subjected to the stress or control condition of the SECPT by using a within-subject design. Consistent with previous findings, a strong approach bias for smoking-related cues in the AAT was found in smokers. Exposure to stress did not affect the general bias for smoking-related cues in the AAT relative to the control condition of the SECPT. In additional explorative analyses, an interaction among carbon monoxide (CO) levels in expired air, cortisol levels, and stress on approach bias for smoking-related cues was found. Higher CO levels, possibly due to recent smoking, prior to stress exposure were associated with an approach bias for smoking-related cues. Our results suggest that CO levels in interaction with stress can modulate implicit, automatic processing in the context of nicotine addiction. Our findings might provide novel cues to how stress influences cigarette craving and smoking behavior.

Self-reported history of intensity of smoking is associated with risk factors for suicide among high school students.

ObjectiveTo examine the relationship between current cigarette smoking patterns and three established risk factors for suicide using nationally representative data of high school students in the United States.MethodsWe analyzed cross-sectional data from the national Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey (YRBSS)–United States, 2017. Multivariable, logistic regressions examined the association between 3 cigarette smoking behaviors [i.e., past 30-day cigarette (n = 13,731), frequent (n = 1,093) and heavy (n = 880) smoking] and 3 risk factors for suicidal outcomes [feeling sad or hopeless, suicidal ideation, suicide plan] assessed over the previous year.ResultsAmong high school cigarette smokers, smoking 11 or more cigarettes per day (i.e., heavy smoking) was associated with 3.43 (95% CI: 1.69, 6.94) greater odds of reporting feeling sad or hopeless, 2.97 (95% CI: 1.60, 5.51) greater odds of reporting suicidal ideations, and 2.11 (95% CI: 1.34, 3.32) greater odds of reporting having ever planned a suicide attempt, controlling for covariates.ConclusionsOur study shows that it is not simply cigarette smoking, but heavy cigarette smoking that is a risk factor for suicidal outcomes among adolescents.Public health implicationsA comprehensive plan is needed to accommodate heavy adolescent smokers who are at increased suicidal risk.

Assessment of Frequency of Cigarette Smoking Behavior Among High School Students and Their Knowledge, Attitude and Behaviors About Cigarette Smoking

Aim: In our study, we wanted to evaluate the frequency of smoking in high school students, the related factors and the knowledge, attitude and behaviors of students about smoking. Material and Methods: High school students between the ages of 14-18 were included in the study. The data were gathered using the questionnaire method. The questions were about the sociodemographic characteristics of the students, their smoking status, whether there are individuals who smoke in the family, the knowledge level of the students about the harms of smoking, and their attitudes towards smoking. Results: The study was conducted with a total of 406 students, 187 (46.1%) girls and 219 (53.9%) boys. 16.3% of the student’s smoke, 83.7% do not smoke, and 3% quitted smoking. As a result of paired comparisons; the smoking rate of students of the 9th grade was found to be significantly lower than the 10th, 11th and 12th grade (p=0.039; p=0.001; p&amp;lt;0.001). The smoking rate of 12th grade students was found to be statistically significantly higher than the 10th and 11th grades (p=0.001; p=0.024). 39.4% of the students started smoking due to social factors and 34.8% because of pleasure. The relationship between smoking status of the students and male gender, father’s education status, smoking status of siblings and smoking status of close friends were found to be statistically significant (p&amp;lt;0.001, p=0.017, p&amp;lt;0.001 and p&amp;lt;0.001 respectively). Conclusion: It was found in our study that a certain percentage of high school students smoke and these rates increase from the 1st to the 4th grade.

Exposure to new smoking environments and individual-level cigarette smoking behavior: Insights from exogenous assignment of military personnel

Despite overall declines in cigarette smoking prevalence in the United States (U.S.) in the past several decades, smoking rates remain highly variable across geographic areas. Past work suggests that smoking norms and exposure to other smokers in one's social environment may correlate with smoking risk and cessation, but little is known about how exposure to other smokers in one's community is causally linked to smoking behavior – in part due to endogeneity and inability to randomly assign individuals to different ‘smoking environments.’ The goal of this study was to evaluate how exposure to localities with high population-level smoking prevalence affects individual-level cigarette smoking behaviors, including quitting. The study addresses key limitations in the literature by leveraging a unique natural experiment: the plausibly exogenous compulsory assignment of military personnel to installations. Logistic and multivariate regressions estimated cross-sectional associations between smoking/quitting behaviors and our proxy for social environments for smoking, county-level smoking prevalence (CSP). Across 563 U.S. counties, CSP ranged from 3.8 to 37.9%. Among the full sample, a 10 percentage point increase in CSP was associated with an 11% greater likelihood of smoking. In subgroup analyses, young adults, women, those without children in the household, and risk/sensation-seekers were more likely to smoke and less likely to quit when exposed to counties with higher CSP. Relocation to areas with high population-level smoking prevalence may increase likelihood of smoking and impede quitting, and may disparately affect some population subgroups. Findings provide novel evidence that community smoking environments affect adult smoking risk and underscore a need for sustained, targeted efforts to reduce smoking in areas where prevalence remains high.