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Self-comparison processes, prototypes, and smoking onset among early adolescents
Renske Spijkerman1, Regina J J M van den Eijnden, Rutger C M E Engels
1IVO (Addiction Research Institute Rotterdam), Heemraadssingel 194, 3021 DM, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Spijkerman@ivo.nl
Preventive Medicine
|April 27, 2005
Summary
Adolescents who perceive smoking peers as cool or rebellious are more likely to start smoking. Self-comparison motivations influence adolescent smoking onset, highlighting targets for prevention programs.
Area of Science:
- Adolescent Health
- Social Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Social prototypes of smoking peers influence adolescent smoking initiation.
- Understanding how adolescents evaluate smoker characteristics is crucial for prevention.
- Self-comparison processes (self-consistency, self-enhancement) are key to this evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine longitudinal relationships between self-comparison motivations and adolescent smoking behavior.
- To investigate how adolescents evaluate characteristics of smoker prototypes.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study with two waves of data collection (1-year interval).
- Self-reported data on motivational processes and smoking behavior.
- Sample of 1938 Dutch adolescents (12-16 years).
Main Results:
- Smoker prototypes, especially those perceived as 'cool' or 'rebellious,' predicted smoking onset.
- Self-consistency and self-enhancement motivations predicted smoking onset based on specific prototype characteristics.
Conclusions:
- Self-consistency and self-enhancement motivations play a role in adolescent smoking onset.
- Prevention programs should address both perceived similarities and aspirations related to smoking peer images.