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

Abstract

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.