Survey of the Relationship between Age of Smoking Onset and Risk-Taking Behaviors among University Students: A Web-Based Study

Abstract

Background. Smoking at a younger age puts people at greater risk for health damage. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the age of smoking onset and high-risk behaviors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, substance abuse, and high-risk sexual behavior among university students in Tabriz, Iran. Methods. This web-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in Tabriz, Iran, in 2019. A total of 3,649 students were included in the study according to the proportion of students in each university. The required information was collected through an online questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between the age of smoking onset and high-risk behaviors. Results. The mean (standard deviation) age of the participants in the study was 22.85 (3.66) years old, and 55.7% were boys. The findings of the study indicate that students who initiated smoking at the age of 16 or younger exhibited higher likelihoods of alcohol consumption over the previous 30 days (OR= 1.77, CI 95%: 1.20 - 2.62) and participation in unsafe sexual practices (OR= 1.54, CI 95%: 1.06 - 2.26) compared to their non-smoking counterparts. Conclusion. Early smoking onset is associated with high-risk behaviors. The age of onset of smoking should be considered as one of the factors associated with high-risk behaviors, and smoking prevention programs should be started from adolescence.