Weaker Self-Esteem in Adolescence Predicts Smoking.
BACKGROUND
To study whether weaker self-esteem in adolescence is connected with smoking behavior in adulthood.


METHODS
An age cohort born in 1979 responded to the Lawrence Self-Esteem Questionnaire (LAWSEQ) at the age of 16 (n = 1,072). Respondents' smoking behavior was monitored annually during adolescence and 75.3% (n = 813) of them remained nonsmokers during adolescence. A follow-up questionnaire eliciting smoking behavior was sent to the adolescent nonsmokers at the age of 29 years. Response rate at follow-up was 46.2% (n = 376).


RESULTS
Weaker self-esteem (LAWSEQ score ≥ 3) during the adolescence was not significantly associated with smoking in adulthood. However, those respondents who had weaker self-esteem in adolescence had increased risk of having been smoking regularly (adjusted OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1-3.0) although not all of them were smokers at the time of the follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Those with weaker self-esteem in adolescence are more likely to smoke regularly in adulthood.
University of Tampere, School of Medicine, 33014 Tampere, Finland ; JYTA, Tunkkari Health Care Centre, Mäntöläntie 2, 69730 Veteli, Finland.
Antti J
AJ
Saari
University of Tampere, School of Medicine, 33014 Tampere, Finland ; Social and Health Services, P.O. Box 241, 65101 Vaasa, Finland.
Jukka
J
Kentala
University of Tampere, School of Medicine, 33014 Tampere, Finland ; Centre of General Practice, Pirkanmaa Hospital District, P.O. Box 2000, 33521 Tampere, Finland.
Kari J
KJ
Mattila
D000293:Adolescent; D000067697:Adolescent Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012649:Self Concept; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult