To further reduce tobacco-related disease, school-based prevention programs need to reach more youth and have more lasting effects. To assist developing more potent preventive interventions, this study tests a broader array of theory-based determinants than typically considered. Tobacco-specific factors of interest include self-efficacy, attitudes, norms, perceived risk, barriers, and intentions; general factors include academic commitment, future orientation, depression, coping strategies, parental involvement, and school involvement. Baseline self-report questionnaires (N=2004) were completed in all middle schools of a Northern California district (active consent, 62% response rate); 44%, 27% and 17% of the respondents were Latino, Euro American, and Asian American, respectively.
Of all participants, 23% had ever tried smoking, while 9% and 3% were current (monthly) and regular smokers, respectively. The most stringent statistical tests (hierarchical logistic regressions) showed current smokers had greater intentions to smoke, attitudes favorable toward smoking, more smoking barriers, less self-efficacy to avoid smoking, and lower grades. We also predicted smoking susceptibility in nonsmokers because they could nonetheless be at risk for future smoking. Persons more susceptible to smoking exhibited depression, maladaptive coping strategies, less parental involvement, and lower school aspirations. Our findings suggest tobacco-specific intervention strategies may have special importance for youth nearing engagement in smoking (middle adolescence). They also suggest interventions combining cognitive-behavioral-skills curricula with youth development approaches (fostering family functioning and/or academic commitment) may produce more sustained reductions in smoking. In the next 18 months our model will be further tested using prospective data, specific cultural groups, and by predicting other drug outcomes.
Learning Objectives: 1) List two tobacco-specific and general smoking determinants. 2) Describe three promising strategies for school-based smoking or general substance use prevention. 3) Develop a plan for a smoking reduction intervention that addresses multiple types of determinants and/or prevention strategies
Keywords: Tobacco Control, School Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.