[Effect of parents on the tobacco use of their children].

A survey carried out in autumn 1978 in a Paris state secondary school (2266 pupils) enabled us to study the precocity and prevalence of smoking habits in boys and girls aged 14.9 years on average, according to their parents' smoking habits and attitudes. The proportions of smokers were 21.8% in boys and 31.2% in girls. These proportions were lower if parents forbade smoking and higher if they allowed it, or simply advised their children against it. The proportion of smokers and precocity of smoking increased with parents' smoking habits. This result was confirmed by a stepping-up discriminant analysis. We also found that the influence of peers entailed a greater precocity in smoking and that those who smoked to assume a countenance smoked a greater number of cigarettes.