There are a number of complex and inter-relating factors that predispose young people to smoke, and these vary among individuals and among populations. However, years of research have identified certain factors that commonly play a role in smoking initiation. These include high levels of social acceptability for tobacco products, exposure and vulnerability to tobacco marketing efforts, availability and ease of access, role modeling by parents and other adults, and peer group use.
Minimising of risk
Adolescents frequently experiment with new behaviours, but don’t often take into serious consideration the long-term consequences. Some youths who are exposed to tobacco messages from an early age come to accept the notion that tobacco provides certain psychological benefits which will help them through adolescence. For them, the risks of tobacco use, which are perceived to be remote, are outweighed by the immediate psychological benefits. Young people tend to underestimate the addictiveness of nicotine and the difficulties associated with quitting, tending to believe that it is easier for young people to quit than adults.
Exposure to tobacco advertising and promotion
The role of advertising is critical to the adolescent’s conditioning process. In advertisements, tobacco users are portrayed as glamorous, popular, independent, adventurous, and macho. By selecting brands that present these images, young people may feel that they are internalising these characteristics. Children’s attitudes and behaviour regarding tobacco are influenced by advertising. Thus, tobacco advertising subverts the understanding and ability of young people to make a free, informed choice whether or not to smoke. Advertising also leads teens to believe that smoking is more common than may actually be the case, particularly among their peers.
Modeling of adults
Children perceive smoking to be an adult behaviour and children may often take up smoking in an attempt to appear more grown-up. Studies show that young children are influenced by parents who smoke, forming more positive attitudes towards smoking than those living with non-smoking parents. This association was found in children as young as three years old; In one study, twice as many children of smokers say that they want to smoke compared to children of non-smokers. Adolescent children of parents who successfully quit smoking are also much less likely to smoke compared to those of parents who do smoke. Adults should be made aware of the impact of their own smoking behaviour on the future smoking behaviour of children. It is essential for adult smoking to be reduced and marginalised as part of comprehensive strategy to decrease smoking among young people.
Peer pressure
Exposure to peers who smoke increases the risk of adolescents starting to smoke. However, it appears that this influence is particularly important after the adolescent has already become susceptible to smoking. Indeed, the effect, of peers is most noticeable in the transition from experimental smoking to addiction.
(WHO – web site)
