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Smokers of the future.
D M Warburton1, A D Revell, D H Thompson
1Department of Psychology, University of Reading, UK.
British Journal of Addiction
|May 1, 1991
Summary
Teenage smoking initiation persists, particularly among young women, with life stressors as a key predictor. Motivations for smoking in youth mirror adult patterns, with a notable group resisting anti-smoking pressures.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Sociology
- Psychology
Background:
- Adolescent smoking remains a significant public health concern, with initiation often linked to life stressors.
- Understanding the evolving demographic profile of smokers is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the motivations behind teenage smoking, especially in young women.
- To examine demographic shifts in smoking populations in the UK and US.
- To explore potential links between socioeconomic status, coping mechanisms, and smoking behavior.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of smoking motivations in young smokers compared to older smokers.
- Review of demographic trends in smoking populations.
- Exploration of socioeconomic factors and coping strategies.
Main Results:
- Key smoking motivations in adolescents are similar to adults, with an emerging group actively resisting anti-smoking pressures.
- No evidence suggests future smokers will have more extreme personality types than previous generations.
- Demographic shifts indicate a rise in female and lower socioeconomic status smokers in the UK and US.
Conclusions:
- Life stressors are significant predictors of adolescent smoking.
- The changing demographics of smokers, particularly the increase in women and those from poorer socioeconomic backgrounds, warrant further investigation into differing coping requirements.
- Intervention strategies may need to adapt to address these demographic and psychosocial shifts.