Learning Objectives: Describe the differences in tobacco use related behavior, attitudes and beliefs of children living in households where others smoke to those of children living in households where no one else is smoking.
Abstract:
PROBLEM/OBJECTIVE: Most smokers begin smoking prior to 18 years of age when they are still living at home. The home environment, including smoking patterns of parents, siblings and other household members, plays an important role in a child’s lifestyle behavior choices as well as their attitudes and beliefs about tobacco use. The purpose of this study is to better understand these relationships to help guide the development of more effective tobacco control programs.
METHODS: Self-administered surveys conducted by the Indianapolis Public School system provided data about middle school students’ knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, self-efficacy, decision-making ability, home environment, and behavior toward tobacco use. Data were collected on 8,104 students who were in the 8th grade in 1999 and in the 6th, 7th, or 8th grade in 2000.
RESULTS: Results indicated 62.7% of the children came from homes where someone else smoked. Most (82.1%) of the students who were currently smoking were from homes where others were smoking. More of the children from non-smoking households cited lack of smoking by family and friends as the reason they decided not to smoke. Fewer of the children from non-smoking households indicated they thought their parents worried about the health effects of their smoking. Children from non-smoking households were less aware of the health effects of tobacco use, the costs of cigarettes, and the laws restricting tobacco sales to minors.
DISCUSSION: This study indicates that tobacco control programs might be more effective when tailored to target children based on the smoking environment in their homes.
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