Use of cigarettes and alcohol by preschoolers while role-playing as adults: "Honey, have some smokes".
OBJECTIVE
To examine preschoolers' attitudes, expectations, and perceptions of tobacco and alcohol use.


METHODS
Structured observational study. Children used props and dolls to act out a social evening for adults. As part of the role play, each child selected items from a miniature grocery store stocked with 73 different products, including beer, wine, and cigarettes, for an evening with friends.


METHODS
A behavioral laboratory at the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College.


METHODS
One hundred twenty children, 2 to 6 years old, participated individually in the role-playing.


METHODS
Whether or not a child purchased cigarettes or alcohol at the store.


RESULTS
Children purchased a mean of 17 of the 73 products in the store. Thirty-four children (28.3%) bought cigarettes and 74 (61.7%) bought alcohol. Children were more likely to buy cigarettes if their parents smoked (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 3.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20-12.63). Children were more likely to buy beer or wine if their parents drank alcohol at least monthly (adjusted OR, 3.04; 95% CI, 1.02-9.10) or if they viewed PG-13- or R-rated movies (adjusted OR, 5.10; 95% CI, 1.14-22.90). Children's play behavior suggests that they are highly attentive to the use and enjoyment of alcohol and tobacco and have well-established expectations about how cigarettes and alcohol fit into social settings.


CONCLUSIONS
The data suggest that observation of adult behavior, especially parental behavior, may influence preschool children to view smoking and drinking as appropriate or normative in social situations. These perceptions may relate to behaviors adopted later in life.
Dalton
Madeline A
MA
Department of Pediatrics, Dartmouth Medical School, Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA. Madeline.Dalton@Dartmouth.edu
Bernhardt
Amy M
AM
Gibson
Jennifer J
JJ
Sargent
James D
JD
Beach
Michael L
ML
Adachi-Mejia
Anna M
AM
Titus-Ernstoff
Linda T
LT
Heatherton
Todd F
TF
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D009513:New Hampshire; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D010988:Play and Playthings; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012381:Role Playing; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D012925:Social Conformity; D012931:Social Environment; D012938:Social Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires