Cigarette smoking among Greek adolescents: behavior, attitudes, risk, and preventive factors.
This study was produced in the context of the first author's thesis at Athens University and was a collaboration between the Department of Clinical Care Medicine, Athens University, and Attiki Child Psychiatric Hospital. It was supported by a project grant from the THORAX Foundation, Greece.


OBJECTIVE
To study the smoking behavior, attitudes, and beliefs of Greek adolescents, as well as the risk and preventive factors for the onset of smoking and to obtain data to serve in the planning of comprehensive antismoking campaigns tailored to the Greek adolescent's specific profile.


METHODS
A stratified, nationwide, representative, school-based sample of 3827 Greek adolescents was surveyed during the academic year 2001-2002, using a questionnaire on smoking and Achenbach's Youth Self-Report.


RESULTS
Cigarette smoking is a serious problem among Greek youth. Family and peers play a primary role in shaping smoking attitudes and habits. Adolescents who smoke regularly have increased rates of psychopathology as indicated by higher scores on the Externalising and Attention Problem scales of Achenbach's Youth Self-Report, compared to adolescents who are non-smokers. The data obtained can indeed guide smoking prevention strategies in Greece.
Attiki Child Psychiatric Hospital, Athens, Greece. cfrancis@otenet.gr
Konstantinos
K
Francis
Georgia
G
Katsani
Xristina
X
Sotiropoulou
Alexandra
A
Roussos
Charalambos
C
Roussos
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000367:Age Factors; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D010555:Personality Inventory; D015995:Prevalence; D011314:Preventive Health Services; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires