The application of Poisson random-effects regression models to the analyses of adolescents' current level of smoking.
BACKGROUND
In school-based smoking prevention research, it is still debatable whether parents or peers are most influential to maintained smoking among adolescents. As a result, this study examines the effects of parental and peer approval of smoking on adolescents' current levels of smoking.


METHODS
Poisson random-effects regression models were used to assess the effects of parental and peer approval of smoking on adolescents' (n = 913) current level of smoking.


RESULTS
Results of these analyses indicate that a stronger relationship between parental approval of smoking and current level of smoking was found for female adolescents than for male adolescents. Conversely, a stronger relationship between peer approval of smoking and current level of smoking was found for male adolescents than for female adolescents. With respect to race, the influence of parental approval of smoking on adolescents' current level of smoking was generally more pronounced for minority adolescents, relative to white adolescents. However, the influence of peer approval of smoking on current level of smoking was strongest for white adolescents and was less strong for black, Hispanic, and Asian adolescents.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this study demonstrated that the effects of parental and peer approval of smoking on adolescents' current levels of smoking were varied by gender and race. These differential effects may have some implication for the development of future school-based smoking prevention and cessation programs.
Siddiqui
O
O
Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.
Mott
J
J
Anderson
T
T
Flay
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010379:Peer Group; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D044469:Racial Groups; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012572:School Health Services; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention