Social representations of smoking behaviour in 13-year-old adolescents

The purpose of this study was to identify adolescents' social representations on smoking using a qualitative approach.

Thirty semi-structured interviews were conducted by trained interviewers. The interviews were recorded with participant's permission after our comprehensive explanation of the interview process. After transcript the content of each interview, information was synthesised under each of main question, and a conceptual content analysis was undertaken. The analysis was performed by two of the authors, and the conflicts were resolved by a third person.

Adolescents suggested different explanations for general people and adolescent smoking behaviour. While in general people smoking behaviour was mostly related to dependence, in adolescence it is referred to be associated with status improving among peers and to keep up social relations. We realised that adolescents are aware of the serious health implications of smoking, but they only referred it as a long-term effect in adulthood and no consequences during adolescence were for seen. We also noted the difficulties in giving preventive measures targeted on adolescents.

This study points out the importance of peers as agents of socialization in tobacco consumption, and shows the importance of anti-smoking campaigns among this age group with emphasis on smoking consequences in adolescence.