title: Age of smoking milestones: longitudinal inconsistencies and recanting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine (1) how reports of the ages of first cigarette smoked and daily smoking onset change from adolescence through emerging adulthood and into young adulthood and (2) what predicts reporting inconsistencies and recanting for both smoking milestones.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multinomial logistic regression models compared relative risks of the following: (1) consistent reporting of milestone age (reference group); (2) recanting at either subsequent wave; or (3) inconsistent reporting of age in at least one subsequent wave, using data from Waves I, III, and IV of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Instability and forward telescoping between adolescence and emerging adulthood leveled off by young adulthood. For smoking first cigarette, those who started younger had more inconsistencies and recanting than those who started later, as did African-American, Latino, and Asian respondents compared with non-Latino white respondents. Native American respondents also had higher relative risks of recanting, as did those with low parental education. Males were more inconsistent than females. Depression, same-sex attractions or relationships, and family structure were not associated with reporting stability. Binge drinking, marijuana, and other illegal drugs were associated with lower levels of recanting. For age of daily smoking, starting older versus younger, sex, race, ethnicity, and use of marijuana were significant predictors of report stability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stage of life may influence forward telescoping in smoking self-reports. Stability of reports of adolescent smoking by emerging and young adults in the United States appears biased by age of onset, sex, race, and other substance use.
authors: Department of Human Development, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia. Electronic address: kaestle@vt.edu.
authors: Christine Elizabeth
authors: CE
authors: Kaestle
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D017668:Age of Onset; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D057566:Self Report; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adolescent; Adolescent behavior; Age of onset; Emerging adulthood; Longitudinal studies; National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health; National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health; Smoking; Telescoping; Tobacco