[Opinions and behaviors of French adolescents confronted with tobacco in 1995].
BACKGROUND
The French Committee for Health Education has observed the adolescent's opinions and behaviours on smoking since 1977.


METHODS
The surveys were carried out on a representative sample, made up by quotas method, of the population concerned (12 to 18 years old). The last data (1995) were analyzed in order to evaluate present smoking behaviour and to measure the influence of the social environment.


RESULTS
In 1995 more than one out of three (35.1%) young people smoked at least once in a while; this smoking prevalence was nearly the same among boys (34.7%) as among girls (35.5%). Since 1977, the long-term trend of the rates showed a decrease and the monitoring of the starting age proved that adolescents began to smoke more and more later. The influence of peer and parents smoking was strong. The socioeconomic status of the family and also the amount of pocket money were other determinants of smoking. The family and school atmosphere played an important role as well.


CONCLUSIONS
The influence of all these environmental variables on the young person's smoking behaviour underlines the necessity of developing simultaneously campaigns aimed at young people and actions among different populations. The emergence of a positive status for the non-smoker supports the choice of the strategies for the latest campaigns.
Grizeau
D
D
Comité français d'éducation pour la santé, Vanves, France.
Baudier
F
F
Allemand
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011639:Public Opinion; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking; D012931:Social Environment
Opinions et comportements des adolescents français face au tabac en 1995.