Young children's understanding of smoking

32 children aged 7-8 years and 30 children aged 10-11 years were interviewed individually about their knowledge and beliefs about the physiological and social effects of smoking. Knowledge about the consequences of smoking in terms of vulnerability to disease and damage to the body increased with age but was high for both groups. Most striking was the increase with age in children's awareness that smoking could be used to control negative mood states rather than simply result in positive enjoyment. The data attest to much social, rather than purely cognitive learning, of beliefs about smoking among children.