title: Why do primary school children smoke? A longitudinal analysis of predictors of smoking uptake during pre-adolescence.
abstract: The objectives of this longitudinal study were to determine the prevalence of smoking among primary school children in Liverpool, and to identify the predictors of experimentation with cigarettes during pre-adolescence. A cohort of children (n = 270) completed questionnaires that elicited patterns of child smoking behaviour and children's experiences of smoking in their families and communities each year between the ages of 9 and 11 years. Parents also completed questionnaires. Children's first trials with cigarettes and repeated smoking were reported. The independent variables measured were socio-economic status, familial and peer smoking, and intentions to smoke. By age 11, 27% of children had tried smoking, 12% had smoked repeatedly and 3% were smoking regularly. Variables measured at age 9 predicting experimentation with cigarettes by age 11 were male gender 9P = 0.041) paternal smoking (P = 0.001) fraternal smoking (P = 0.017) a best friend who smoked (P = 0.026) and knowing someone with a smoking-related disease (P = 0.006) Intentions to smoke at age 9 did not predict smoking at age 11 (P < 0.001). In univariate analyses, child smoking was also associated with maternal smoking (P = 0.002 at age 11), living in a low-income household (P < 0.001 at age 10) and living in a deprived area ( P = 0.025 at age 11). Early smoking presents a considerable challenge to health promoters, not least because it is socially patterned. The interventions required must tackle the structural and social pressures that shape smoking behaviour during childhood.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Liverpool, Whelan Building, Quadrangle, Liverpool L69 3GB, UK. bmilton@liverpool.ac.uk
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Milton
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dugdill
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Porcellato
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Springett
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Woods
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology