Gender differences in susceptibility to smoking among high school students
Esperanza Santano-Mogena1,2, Cristina Franco-Antonio1,2, Sergio Cordovilla-Guardia1,2
1Nursing Department, Nursing and Occupational Therapy College, Universidad de Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain.
Journal of Advanced Nursing
|July 22, 2022
Summary
Adolescent females show higher susceptibility to smoking, influenced by peer smoking. Preventive programs should consider gender-specific approaches to mitigate environmental factors.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Adolescent Health
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Adolescent smoking remains a significant public health concern.
- Understanding gender-specific susceptibility factors is crucial for effective prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze gender differences in smoking susceptibility among adolescents aged 12-16.
- To investigate the role of gender and associated factors in smoking susceptibility.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 364 students (53% female) aged 12-16 in western Spain.
- Analysis of sociodemographic, environmental, social, and personal variables.
- Calculation of the Extended Index of Susceptibility to Smoking (ESSI) and mediation analysis.
Main Results:
- Females exhibited higher medium-high ESSI levels (79.3% vs. 61.4%), greater cigarette and hookah use, and higher risk of alcohol consumption.
- Females reported increased impulsivity and negative affect.
- Females demonstrated over double the smoking susceptibility (aOR: 2.05), with peer influence as a key mediator.
Conclusions:
- Greater smoking susceptibility in adolescent females is linked to a stronger influence of smoking friends.
- Targeted, gender-sensitive preventive programs are recommended to address peer influence.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Statistical Methods for Analyzing Epidemiological Data
508
Epidemiological data primarily involves information on specific populations' occurrence, distribution, and determinants of health and diseases. This data is crucial for understanding disease patterns and impacts, aiding public health decision-making and disease prevention strategies. The analysis of epidemiological data employs various statistical methods to interpret health-related data effectively. Here are some commonly used methods:
508
01:26Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques IV
59
Stress often leads to unhealthy habits like smoking, excessive drinking, and overeating, which offer short-term relief but ultimately increase long-term health risks. These behaviors create a cycle that temporarily lowers stress levels but can result in severe long-term health consequences. Breaking these habits is essential to reduce the risk of chronic diseases and improve overall well-being. Three primary changes that support better health include quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake,...
59
01:30Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development
77
Social-emotional experiences and cultural influences play significant roles in shaping gender development. During middle childhood, from ages 6 to 11, peer groups become dominant in reinforcing gender norms. Children in this age group often align with same-gender peer groups, which actively encourage behaviors that conform to traditional gender roles. For instance, boys may be discouraged from engaging in activities perceived as feminine, reinforcing culturally dictated norms about masculinity...
77
02:20Longitudinal Research
12.3K
Sometimes we want to see how people change over time, as in studies of human development and lifespan. When we test the same group of individuals repeatedly over an extended period of time, we are conducting longitudinal research. Longitudinal research is a research design in which data-gathering is administered repeatedly over an extended period of time. For example, we may survey a group of individuals about their dietary habits at age 20, retest them a decade later at age 30, and then again...
12.3K
02:01Group Design
9.5K
The most basic experimental design involves two groups: the experimental group and the control group. The two groups are designed to be the same except for one difference— experimental manipulation. The experimental group gets the experimental manipulation—that is, the treatment or variable being tested—and the control group does not. Since experimental manipulation is the only difference between the experimental and control groups, we can be sure that any differences between...
9.5K
02:04Bullying
8.5K
A modern form of aggression is bullying. As you learn in your study of child development, socializing and playing with other children is beneficial for children’s psychological development. However, as you may have experienced as a child, not all play behavior has positive outcomes. Some children are aggressive and want to play roughly. Other children are selfish and do not want to share toys. One form of negative social interactions among children that has become a national concern is...
8.5K