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September 09, 2008
Researchers say young smokers may be more likely to have behavioral problems
PsychCentral (9/4, Nauert) reported that youngsters "who have tried cigarettes by seventh grade are much more likely to become regular smokers and have behavior problems as teens," according to a study published in the Oct. issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health.
For the study, Phyllis Ellickson, Ph.D., of the RAND Corporation, and colleagues, "collected data at seventh, 10th, and 12th grade from 2,000 students in California and Oregon who were early smokers in middle school." The researchers "tested the students' saliva samples for tobacco and marijuana to ensure accuracy."
The investigators found that "30 percent of the early smokers had recently used cigarettes, 14 percent were smoking regularly, and 21 percent had multiple school problems." The findings also revealed that "having peers who smoke was a strong risk factor for becoming a regular smoker."
In fact, "at-risk teens were two or more times likely than low-risk teens -- those who hadn't tried smoking by seventh grade -- to have peers who smoke, and five times more likely to have had two or more problems in school."
Related Links:
- "Young Smokers Risk Behavioral Problems," Rick Nauert, PsychCentral, September 4, 2008.
Posted by admin at September 9, 2008 01:11 PM