Attitudes toward and beliefs about smoking in grade school children.

A questionnaire was developed to study attitudes toward and beliefs about the health consequences and social value of smoking. After initial evaluation of the instrument's reliability, it was administered to approximately 400 children, ranging in age from 7 to 15 years. Significant age effects for some items were demonstrated, but no significant sex effects or sex by age interactions were revealed. Children as young as 7 years were found to be well aware of the health hazards of smoking and likely to express negative attitudes concerning it. We conclude that if smoking prevention programs are to have more than minimal success with youth, they must offer something more than mere information about the health hazards of smoking.