[Tobacco and adolescents: influence of the personal environment].
BACKGROUND
The initiation of the smoking habit is related both with personal and environmental characteristics. Several authors have described the association of the smoking habit of parents, older siblings, and friends with the use of tobacco by teens.


METHODS
This study is based on a cross-sectional survey to 6th and 7th grade students in Barcelona (Spain).


RESULTS
This study confirms there is a growing proportion of smokers among teens when their parents, siblings and friend smoke. Children whose parents have quit smoking behave as the sons of parents who have never smoked, and smoke much less than the children of current smokers. When parents do not smoke, having siblings and friends who smoke increases the frequency of smoking from 0.2 to 3.4%, a 17-fold increase.


CONCLUSIONS
Current smoking and future smoking intention are related with the number of smokers in the teen environment. These results support preventive programs in schools that include activities to resist external pressures to smoke. It also suggests that helping young adult smokers quit contributes not only to their own health, but also prevents the initiation of smoking among teens in their environment.
Aubà
J
J
Institut Municipal de la Salut, Ajuntament de Barcelona.
Villalbí
J R
JR
D000293:Adolescent; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012931:Social Environment
Tabaco y adolescentes: influencia del entorno personal.