Predicting smoking among rural adolescents: social and cognitive processes

Although considerable literature can be found concerning the etiology of cigarette smoking, a major gap exists pertaining to predictors of adolescent smoking for rural populations in the United States. To address this gap in the literature, the present study focused on rural adolescents and investigated a model of social and cognitive cross-sectional predictors of smoking. Gender-specific differences in etiology were examined by testing the same model separately for boys and girls. Seventh graders (N=1,673) residing in northeastern Iowa self-reported smoking, peer smoking norms, adult smoking norms, drug refusal assertiveness, drug refusal techniques, life skills, prosmoking attitudes, risk-taking tendency, and family management practices. Data were collected during a class period in 36 junior high schools. Peer smoking norms, adult smoking norms, drug refusal assertiveness, drug refusal techniques, prosmoking attitudes, and risk-taking tendency were associated cross-sectionally with smoking. As for gender-specific effects, family management skills, life skills, and risk-taking tendency were concurrently related to smoking for girls only. Based on the results of the present study and on prevention research, it would appear that smoking prevention programs for rural adolescents would benefit from incorporating normative education, drug refusal training, parent skills training, and competence enhancement skills training.