[Why girls smoke: a structural model of smoking intention]

Tobacco use among girls is increasing at an accelerating pace, with adverse effects for their own health and that of their potential offspring. In order to test, through structural equation modeling techniques, an explanatory model of smoking intention in young girls, we applied a validated instrument to 386 female students at state and private secondary schools. The model considered the effect of six protective and risk factors on smoking intention, as well as the relationship between them. These variables were obtained from a multiple regression analysis which included a total of 25. The results indicated that having friends who smoke cigarettes constitutes the main influence on smoking intention in young girls. Parents play a fundamental protective role, since, on supervising their daughters activities and prohibiting smoking at home, the girls smoking intention is decreased, presence of friends who smoke is controlled, and rebellious behavior is moderated, and this influences the girls beliefs about the benefits of smoking. Believing that tobacco is really addictive is also a protective cognitive factor for such girls. Proposals are discussed for applying the findings to prevention programs addressing smoking in young girls, and in which parents are included.