Factors associated with the initiation of "smoking" in nine year old children

The present study examined the relationship between 787 (415 boys and 372 girls) nine year old children's reported experience with cigarettes and the parents, home environment, peers, socioeconomic status, school performance and behavior or emotional problems and delinquency factors which had in the past been found to be influential during the formative stages of initiation into the use of tobacco. The 787 children (415 boys and 372 girls) were classified as either "puffers" (those who had puffed on a cigarette) or nonpuffers. The results suggest than, at age nine, puffers were more likely than nonpuffers to: intend to smoke in the future; have one or both parents smoking; have one, or more, smoking friend(s); do less well at maths and school work in general; misbehave more often; and be taken to see a psychologist regarding a behavioral or emotional problem.