Socioeconomic Trends in Adolescent Smoking in Finland From 2000 to 2015

Smoking is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In the past decades, the prevalence of adolescent smoking has decreased in industrial countries. However, whether the decreasing trend can be seen across all socioeconomic groups is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine time trends in adolescent smoking according to the socioeconomic status among Finnish adolescents between 2000 and 2015.

A population-based school survey was conducted biennially among 14- to 16-year-old Finns between 2000 and 2015 (n = 761,278). Distributions for frequent smoking, lifelong nonsmoking, and socioeconomic adversities (low parental education, not living with both parents and parental unemployment during the past year) were calculated. Associations were studied using binomial logistic regression results shown by odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals.

Frequent smoking was positively associated and lifelong nonsmoking was negatively associated with socioeconomic adversities. Over the study period, the overall prevalence of frequent smoking decreased and lifelong nonsmoking increased. However, no similar changes were observed among adolescents with most socioeconomic adversities.

Socioeconomic differences in adolescent smoking increased in Finland between 2000 and 2015. Although the overall prevalence of frequent smoking decreased, no similar decrease was observed among adolescents with most socioeconomic adversities. Similarly, although the overall prevalence of lifelong nonsmoking increased, this was not observed among adolescents with most socioeconomic adversities. Socioeconomic adversities should be considered in the prevention of adolescent smoking.