The average age of smoking onset in Germany--trends and correlates.
OBJECTIVE
Germany is rated among the countries with the highest prevalence of tobacco use in Europe. This paper analyzes whether the age of smoking onset has decreased in recent years.


METHODS
Multivariable event data analyses were performed on the basis of the representative national cross-sectional study "Drug Affinity among Young People in the Federal Republic of Germany 2004". The survey involved a total net sample of 3032 individuals aged 12 to 25.


RESULTS
Socioeconomic groups starting to smoke at significantly earlier age include those from the economically deprived areas in eastern Germany, low educational achievers and subjects in households with adult smokers.


CONCLUSIONS
The average age of smoking onset has decreased further in the 1978-1992 birth cohorts.
Schneider
Sven
S
Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, Mannheim Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University, Germany. sven.schneider@medma.uni-heidelberg.de
Mohnen
Sigrid M
SM
Pust
Svenja
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004493:Education; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult