Adolescent gender differences in the determinants of tobacco smoking: a cross sectional survey among high school students in São Paulo

Abstract

BackgroundDiverse psychosocial factors have been associated with the use of cigarettes by adolescents. We investigated gender differences in tobacco smoking, and factors correlated with smoking among boys and girls.MethodsData was collected on recent cigarette smoking (CS) and related factors, with a focus on religious beliefs, leisure activities, family structure, relationships and parental monitoring from 2,691 private school-attending youths from 28 schools in São Paulo, Brazil, selected via probability sampling. Estimates were derived via weighted hierarchical logistic regression models.ResultsThere was no difference in the prevalence of recent cigarette smoking between boys and girls (14.2%). Older age (aORboys = 1.71[1.33-2.21]; aORgirls = 1.73[1.35-2.23]), second-hand smoke exposure at home (aORboys = 1.52[1.00-2.29]; aORgirls = 1.74[1.13-2.68]) and not having a religion (aORboys = 1.99[1.41-2.81]; aORgirls = 1.78[1.14-2.78]) were associated with CS in boys and girls. Adolescents who went out often at night were more likely to be tobacco smokers (aORboys = 8.82[3.96-19.67]; aORgirls = 14.20[6.64-30.37]). For girls, data suggest that CS was also associated with a lack of parental attention and care (aORgirls = 4.37[1.19-16.04]) and no participation in youth religious activities (aORgirls = 2.76[1.49-5.12]). For boys, CS was additionally associated with the loss of one or both parents (aORboys = 3.75[1.78-7.85]).ConclusionsAlthough older age, living with smokers at home and lack of religion were common contributing factors to cigarette smoking among all adolescents, girls were influenced to a greater degree by family relationships and religiosity than boys. The study results may be materially important to the development of prevention programs that influence determinants connected to gender and the implementation of single-core models of prevention; gender differences must be considered in order to reduce adolescent CS.

Estilos parentais como fator de proteção ao consumo de tabaco entre adolescentes brasileiros

“…Similar results have been broadly described in the literature 23,36,37,38 . Often, the smoking behavior of the parents can be understood by the adolescent as "normal" and Table 1 Sociodemographic and family characteristics of the total sample and according to tobacco-use patterns, in the previous month and frequent use (N = 17,246).…”

Cigarette smoking among 17–18 year old adolescents – Prevalence and association with sociodemographic, familial, sport, and scholastic factors

“…However, the relationship between substance misuse and religiosity/spirituality among adolescents is not clear. Accordingly, studies have found that the influence of different religions on the consumption of substances is variable [10][11][12]. Parental factors and parental (i.e., familial) monitoring have generally been found to be protective against cigarette smoking, and studies have been consistent in this regard irrespective of differences in the study populations [13,14].…”

Binge drinking and associated factors among adolescents in a city in southeastern Brazil: a longitudinal study

“…Binge drinking is often associated with the use of other substances, such as cigarettes 37 . This association may be explained by common predisposing factors, such as the influence of peers, parental behavior regarding alcohol, tobacco and supervision 1 as well as aspects related to religious participation 8,38 . In contrast to the present findings, Fisher et al 39 conducted a cohort study in the United States and concluded that smoking did not appear to increase the risk of binge drinking among individuals who had initiated alcohol use.…”