Family and peer influences on smoking behavior among American adolescents: an age trend.

PURPOSE

To study the age trend of family and peer influence on adolescent smoking behavior using a national sample.

METHODS

Adolescents (N = 6,900), ages 14 through 18 years, from the 1988-89 Teenage Attitudes and Practices Survey, were selected for analyses. Data collected included measures for smoking status of the adolescent and their family and peers.

RESULTS

Peer influence, such as the smoking status of best male/female friends, proved to be the most significant and consistent predictor across all ages, while parental influence had little effect on adolescent smoking status. Gender-specific effects were noted in the peer influence of adolescent smoking.

CONCLUSIONS

The peer influence on adolescent smoking, across ages 14 through 18 years, confirmed previous literature. However, no differential effect of family and peer influence on adolescent smoking was evident.