NCJ Number
169983
Date Published
1984
Length
13 pages
Annotation
Using a sample of children from 20 of the 63 public schools in London, Ontario, Canada, a large urban area, this study measured variables associated with smoking using multivariate statistical procedures.
Abstract
The 63 schools were stratified into 5 parental income levels, and 4 schools were randomly selected from each of the 5 income levels. Initial work was done in 1975 using 2,583 children in grades 4 through 6, and subsequent work was carried out in 1978 using 2,372 children in grades 6 through 8. Results were available for 1,682 children who responded on both occasions. An 83-item questionnaire was administered to study participants. Results of multivariate analysis showed current smoking by young people was related to age, socioeconomic status, school achievement, attitudes, knowledge, and parental and peer smoking. There was no association between sex and smoking. Exposure to a smoking awareness curriculum did not appear to have any direct effect on the smoking behavior of children. 27 references and 6 tables