Environmental factors as predictors of smoking among ninth-grade adolescents in pitkäranta (russian karelia) and in eastern Finland

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess whether similar environmental factors predict adolescents' smoking in two different cultures: in the Pitkäranta district in Russian Karelia and in eastern Finland. The data were gathered by self-administered questionnaires from ninth-grade students in 10 comprehensive schools in Pitkäranta (n = 385) and from age-matched students in 24 schools in eastern Finland (n = 2,098). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test whether similar path structures fit for boys and for girls in Pitkäranta and in eastern Finland, and to test whether regression coefficients were similar between the cultures by sex. Smoking by family members and best friends was positively related to adolescents' smoking both directly and indirectly. Environmental factors were similar predictors of smoking between the cultures for boys. For girls, different regression coefficients in Pitkäranta and in eastern Finland were found. Best friend's smoking was the most important predictor of adolescents' own smoking in every sub-sample. When indirect relationships were identified, the significance of parents' and siblings' smoking, in addition to smoking by best friends, was strongly supported.

The social determinants of adolescent smoking in Russia in 2004

“…As previous research has highlighted that smoking amongst youth in Russia is associated with negative health outcomes even in adolescence (Prokhorov and Alexandrov 1992) addressing the issue of adolescent smoking is an urgent task from a public health perspective. Our results, in conjunction with the findings from earlier studies (Kemppainen et al 2006) suggest that the parental home may be an especially important site when it comes to both understanding adolescent smoking in Russia, and that any attempts to prevent youth smoking must be combined with efforts to reduce adult (and thus parental) smoking.…”

“…Maternal smoking was associated with boys' and especially, girls' smoking. This association has been observed in an earlier study of adolescent smoking in Russia (Kemppainen et al 2006). Several ways have been proposed in which parents might influence children's smoking.…”

“…cotinine) undertaken to verify reported smoking status. This may have resulted in the under-reporting of smoking status, especially among girls (Kemppainen et al 2006). Second, the cross-sectional nature of this study makes it impossible to determine cause and effect.…”

“…In addition, some previous research suggests that those with low self-esteem may also be unable to resist the social pressure from peers to start smoking (Carvajal et al 2000). In Russia, adolescents have a significant amount of freedom as regards their peer relations and leisure activities (Holloway et al 2008) and a best friend's smoking is also a strong predictor of adolescent smoking (Kemppainen et al 2006). Maternal smoking was associated with boys' and especially, girls' smoking.…”

“…However, the prevalence of weekly smoking we recorded among girls was much lower than in this aforementioned study where 21% of 15-year-old females were weekly smokers (Currie et al 2008). This highlights one of the possible limitations of the current study-that data were collected within households rather than schools, which may have resulted in some girls concealing their true smoking status as it is still less culturally acceptable for females to smoke in Russia (Kemppainen et al 2006).…”