The role of friends' disruptive behavior in the development of children's tobacco experimentation: results from a preventive intervention study.
Having friends who engage in disruptive behavior in childhood may be a risk factor for childhood tobacco experimentation. This study tested the role of friends' disruptive behavior as a mediator of the effects of a classroom based intervention on children's tobacco experimentation. 433 Children (52% males) were randomly assigned to the Good Behavior Game (GBG) intervention, a universal preventive intervention targeting disruptive behavior, and facilitating positive prosocial peer interactions. Friends' disruptive behavior was assessed from age 7-10 years. Participants' experimentation with tobacco was assessed annually from age 10-13. Reduced rates in tobacco experimentation and friends' disruptive behavior were found among GBG children, as compared to controls. Support for friends' disruptive behavior as a mediator in the link between intervention status and tobacco experimentation was found. These results remained after controlling for friends' and parental smoking status, and child ADHD symptoms. The results support the role of friends' disruptive behavior in preadolescents' tobacco experimentation.
van Lier
Pol A C
PA
Department of Developmental Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081 BT Amsterdam, the Netherlands. pac.van.lier@psy.vu.nl
Huizink
Anja
A
Vuijk
Patricia
P
D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology*; D005717:Games, Experimental; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires