FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO SMOKING AMONG ADOLESCENTS

WHY DO ADOLESCENTS

SMOKE?

THEIR PARENTS SMOKE

Adolescents with one or both of

their parents (or other family

members) are more likely to start

smoking compared to other

adolescents.

They may think that smoking will

make them look more mature and

they may feel like they are grown

up.

Many adolescents see their

parents as role models and if their

parents are involved with

something like smoking then they

feel that it is alright for them to do

the same.

THEIR FRIENDS SMOKE

Some adolescents start smoking

because their friends smoke and

they want to fit in.

Adolescents in this situation all

have to deal with “peer pressure”

and most will be asked by their

friend at one time or another to

smoke with him/her.

Since everyone wants to fit in with

their friends they will most likely

be too afraid to say no when their

friend asks them.

COULD HELP THEM LOSE

WEIGHT

Females might begin smoking

because they are conscious of

their weight.

The main chemical in tobacco is

nicotine, a stimulant, which causes

your heart to beat more rapidly.

This causes weight loss.

Cigarettes may also cause a

decreased appetite.

Therefore many female

adolescents smoke because they

feel it will help them lose weight,

and often do not consider the

harm they are doing to their

bodies. 1

FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO SMOKING AMONG ADOLESCENTS

EXPOSURE TO TOBACCO

ADVERTISING & PROMOTION…

MOVIES…

o Exposure to tobacco advertising

and promotion is associated with the likelihood of adolescents to start smoking.

o Exposure to movies in which stars

that are admired by adolescents are smokers and are portrayed as sexy, smart, attractive, rich, and courageous also considerably increases the chances of smoking initiation among teens. 2

STRESS…BORED…SAD… Most common event leading to

smoking is being in a negative mood, such as feeling sad, tense, angry, or bored.

Nicotine causes the brain to

release chemicals, called

neurotransmitters. Some of these

chemicals, such as beta-endorphin

and norepinephrine, can cause a

person to feel better, but only for

a short time. They can improve

your mood for a while.

Smokers often use the act of

lighting and smoking a cigarette as

a “time out” from thinking about

or dealing with stress. Like any

activity, smoking can distract a

person from his or her troubles.

Because smoking is often a social

activity, some people find that

lighting a cigarette brings to mind

feelings of group support. This can

comfort people in times of stress. 3

REFERENCES 1. Adolescent smoking

Available at

http://www.cedu.niu.edu/~shumo

w/iit/AdolescentSmoking.pdf#2

(3/1/2010)

2. Smoking and Adolescence: some

issues on prevention and cessation

by Diane Logan, BA Beatriz Carlini-

Marlatt, PhD

Available at

http://www.mentorfoundation.org

/pdfs/prevention_perspectives/5.p

df (3/1/2010)

3. Smoking, stress & mood

Available at

http://www.smokefree.gov/pubs/

FFree6.pdf (3/1/2010)