Factors associated with tobacco smoking and the belief about weight control effect of smoking among Hungarian adolescents

Associations of weight control related behaviors with current cigarette smoking among Chinese adolescents: Results from an ongoing school-based survey in Zhejiang province

INTRODUCTION

Previous studies have suggested that adolescents may smoke cigarettes to control weight, but relevant research is scarce in Chinese youth. This study was conducted to examine the associations of weight control related behaviors with cigarette smoking in Chinese students.

METHODS

This was a secondary analysis of data for 24835 middle and high school students drawn from the 2022 Zhejiang Youth Risk Behavior Survey of China which collected self-reported information of cigarette smoking, weight control strategies and other health-related behaviors. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the study associations.

RESULTS

Overall, there were 998 (4.02%) current cigarette smokers in this wave of the Zhejiang YRBS (2022). Neither trying to control weight nor healthy weight control behavior of exercising was associated with current cigarette smoking (AOR=1.15; 95% CI: 0.97-1.37 and AOR=1.01; 95% CI: 0.85-1.20, respectively). Meanwhile, unhealthy weight control behaviors of taking laxatives (AOR=1.52; 95% CI: 1.03-2.26), taking diet pills (AOR=1.82; 95% CI: 1.26-2.62), dieting (AOR=1.24; 95% CI: 1.04-1.49), and fasting (AOR=1.81; 95% CI: 1.40-2.34) were significantly associated with increased odds of current cigarette smoking.

CONCLUSIONS

Screening and developing interventions for unhealthy weight control behaviors should be considered as part of smoking prevention programs among adolescents.

Frequency of cigarette smoking and its associated factors among men in East Africa: a pooled prevalence analysis of national survey using multinomial regression

BACKGROUND

Despite the harmful effects of smoking, there have been few studies to pinpoint the factors of this habit, and little is known about it in the East African region. For this reason, this study sought to determine the frequency and factors of cigarette smoking among men in the region.

METHODS

Data from recent demographic and health surveys carried out in ten East African countries between 2015 and 2022 were analyzed in this study. Data from 87,022 men was collected. The key factors affecting the smoking rates in the area were investigated using binary and multiple multinomial logistic regression. To ascertain if variables were statistically significant in the final model for binary regression and multiple regression, P values of ≤ 0.2 and < 0.05 were used respectively.

RESULTS

Overall, about 14.69% of people currently smoke cigarettes. Of this about 11.03 (95% CI = 10.82, 11.24) was for daily active tobacco use. As compared to < 26-year-old men, men with an age range of 26-35 years (RRR = 2.17, 95% CI: 2.01,2.34), 36-45 years (RRR = 2.82, 95% CI: 2.60, 3.07), and > 45 years old (RRR = 3.68, 95% CI: 3.38, 4.02), were using cigarettes daily rather than no-smoking cigarettes. Men who had begun their first sexual intercourse at the age of 7-19 years (RRR = 6.27,95% CI, 5.35,7.35), 20-25 years (RRR = 4.01, 95% CI, 3.40,4.72), and greater than 25 years old (RRR = 3.08, 95% CI, 2.55,3.71) have shown a higher relative risk ratio to smoke cigarette daily rather than using not smoke cigarette respectively, married (RRR = 0.86, 95% CI, 0.79,0.93), divorced or widowed (RRR = 2.51, 95% CI, 2.27,2.77), middle wealth index (RRR = 2.11, 95% CI 1.98,2.24), and rich (RRR = 1.44, 95% CI, 1.34,1.54), secondary/higher education (RRR = 0.72, 05% CI, 0.66,0.77), rural men (RRR = 0.69, 95% CI, 0.65,0.73), employed men (RRR = 1.26,95% CI, 1.17,1.36), mass media exposure (RRR = 0.76, 95% CI, 0.73,0.81), men who have one sex partner (RRR = 1.23,95% CI,1.13,1.35), and more than one sex partner (RRR = 1.63, 95% CI, 1.47,1.79) more times as compared to those participants who had no sex partner respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Men in East African nations were substantially more likely to smoke cigarettes if they were older, had less education, had a higher wealth index, were divorced or widowed, had many sexual relationships, had early sexual activity, resided in an urban area, were employed, or had no media exposure. The identified factors should be considered by policymakers and public health professionals to lower smoking initiation and increase smoking cessation among men.

Prevalence of Cigarettes and Waterpipe Smoking among Jordanians, Refugees, and Migrants in Jordan and Its Associated Factors: A Secondary Data Analysis

Smoking is a major public health threat resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of current smoking among different adult populations in Jordan, including Jordanians, refugees, and migrants and determine the factors associated with smoking. A cross-sectional survey was conducted during the period of June-September 2021 among Jordanians, Syrian refugees (both urban and camp refugees), and migrants living in four governorates in Jordan, including Amman, Zarqa, Mafraq, and Irbid. The selection of the four governorates was based on criteria related to the presence of Syrian refugees in host communities. The highest prevalence of cigarette smoking was among urban Jordanians (51.1%), followed by non-camp refugees (46.7%), while the highest prevalence for waterpipe (43.2%) and dual smoking (28.7%) was among non-camp refugees. Being male, aged 25-45 years old, unemployed, and having less than a high school education, as well as being urban Jordanians, were all associated with higher odds of cigarette smoking. Being male, unemployed, and urban Jordanians or non-camp refugees were variables associated with higher odds of waterpipe smoking. The study findings indicate that the identification of smoking prevalence in Jordan and its associated factors, including gender, educational level, employment status, regional area, migration, and exposure to traumas, should be considered by healthcare providers to formulate smoking cessation programs tailored to their needs and ultimately reduce smoking prevalence.

Cigarette smoking and associated factors among men in five South Asian countries: A pooled analysis of nationally representative surveys

Smoking is one of the leading causes of premature deaths worldwide. The cigarette is the commonest form of tobacco smoking. This study investigated the factors associated with cigarette smoking among men in five South Asian countries. We analyzed nationally representative cross-sectional study (Demographic and Health Survey) data conducted in Afghanistan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Pakistan from 2015-2018. Our study population was men aged between 15 and 49 years. The outcome variable was the prevalence of cigarette smoking. We performed both pooled and country-specific analyses using multivariable logistic regression. The prevalence of cigarette smoking among men is the highest (41.2%) in the Maldives and the lowest (20.1%) in Pakistan. Our pooled analysis found that higher age, lower education, lower wealth status, and involvement in any occupations were strongly associated with cigarette smoking (p-value <0.001). However, we did not find a significant association between age and wealth status in Afghanistan, occupations in Nepal and Pakistan, and education in Pakistan with cigarette smoking when country-specific analyses were performed. In this study, socioeconomic position, age, and urban area are strongly associated with cigarette smoking in South Asian countries. The country-specific circumstances should be considered in planning and designing national smoking control strategies and interventions. However, improving access to smoking cessation services could be an effective intervention for all studied countries, Afghanistan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Pakistan.

Weight misperception and substance use: Brazilian Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents (ERICA)

BACKGROUND

Adolescence is a crucial period for body image formation. Weight misperception is the discrepancy between individuals' body weight perception and their actual nutritional status. Both weight concerns and substance use are common among adolescents, and there is evidence of an associations between these two variables. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the association between weight misperception and substance use (smoking and alcohol) in a national sample of normal weight Brazilian adolescents.

METHODS

Data were obtained from the Brazilian Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents (ERICA), a cross-sectional, multicenter, national, school-based survey, carried out in 124 municipalities with more than 100,000 inhabitants from Brazil. The sample included adolescents aged 12-17 years, classified as normal weight by nutritional status evaluation. The following measures were collected: weight underestimation and overestimation (exposure); having tried cigarette smoking, current smoking, current alcohol consumption, binge drinking and current smoking and alcohol consumption(outcomes); macro-region, sex, type of school, and excessive screen time (confounders). The frequency of variables was calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Poisson regression models were used to estimate prevalence ratios (PR).

RESULTS

In total, data from 53,447 adolescents were analyzed. Weight misperception was present in a third of the adolescents, with similar prevalence of weight underestimation and overestimation. In adolescents aged 12-14 years, weight underestimation and overestimation were associated with having tried cigarette smoking (PR: 1.18 and 1.43, respectively), current alcohol consumption (PR: 1.33 for both weight misperception categories), and binge drinking (PR: 1.96 and 2.01, respectively). Weight underestimation was associated with both having tried cigarette smoking and current alcohol consumption in boys (PR: 1.14 and 1.16, respectively) and girls (PR: 1.32 and 1.15, respectively). In girls, weight overestimation was associated with all substance use variables (PR between 1.19 and 1.41).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results showed an association between weight misperception and having tried cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and binge drinking in younger adolescents. In addition, weight overestimation was associated with all substance use indicators in girls. Based on our findings, interventions aimed to improve weight perception in normal weight adolescents may contribute to the reduction of substance use in this population.

[Predictors of tobacco use in a high school in Guinea]

INTRODUCTION

Youth smoking is a public health issue. However, the extent of smoking among young people, particularly among high school students, remains little known in Guinea.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and predictive factors of tobacco consumption in a high school in the Middle Guinea region in 2019.

STUDY METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study with analytical aims, focusing on 353 high school students selected from the high school of Mali-center. A questionnaire adapted from the standardized questionnaire validated by the WHO and the CDC as part of the global student health surveys was used for data collection in November 2019. Logistic regression was used to identify predictive factors.

RESULTS

The prevalence of smoking was 9.92% [95% CI: 6.80-13.00]. Note that 76.20% of respondents did not know of any harmful effects of tobacco on health. Male sex [OR = 5.60 (95% CI: 3.25-7.15)], alcohol consumption by the student [OR = 12.94 (95% CI: 10.32-15.78)] and smoking by close friends [OR = 5.40 (95% CI: 3.77-7.49)] were the predictors of tobacco use.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of smoking and the ignorance of the effects of tobacco on health among high school students in central Mali should draw the attention of actors. Interventions based on education for personal development, youth entrepreneurship and tobacco legislation should be undertaken.

Environmental and economics-related factors of smoking among Iranian adults aged 35-70: a PERSIAN cohort-based cross-sectional study

The prevalence of smoking in developing countries is known as a significant public health problem, and it is correlated with different demographic and socio-economic factors. This study aimed to determine the environmental and economical related factors of smoking among Iranian adults aged 35 to 70 years. The study sample consisted of 20,152 of Ardabil population aged 35-70 years which was enrolled in the PERSIAN cohort study. Smoking status during the last year was defined as dependent variable and demographic and socio-economic factors considered as independent variables. To identify the main socio-economic factors affecting the smoking prevalence in Ardabil, multivariable logistic regression was used. The prevalence of smoking was 16.1 (95%, CI 15.5-16.4) in this study, where the prevalence of smoking was for men and women 33.4% and 1.4%, respectively. The prevalence of smoking had significant association with old age (2.05, 95% CI, 1.66 to 2.53), male gender (45.15, 95% CI, 37.14 to 54.89), being married (2.60, 95% CI, 1.51 to 4.46), having cardiovascular disease (1.54, 95% CI, 1.32 to 1.79), and negative association with illiteracy (0.50, 95% CI, 0.40 to 0.64), being obese (0.83, 95% CI, 0.73 to 0.94), and lower socio-economic status (0.74, 95% CI, 0.64 to 0.84). The study showed that the prevalence of smoking in Ardabil is higher than many other countries, and different factors, especially socio-economic status, have an association with the prevalence. There are deep needs to policies and regulations such as increasing the taxation on a cigarette to reduce the negative effect of smoking in Iran.

Unhealthy life habits associated with self-induced vomiting and laxative misuse in Brazilian adolescents

Adolescence is a stage in life characterized by important social, cognitive, and physical changes. Adolescents are vulnerable to various psychosocial disorders, including eating disorders. We aimed to investigate the association between unhealthy habits, sociodemographic characteristics, and the practice of self-induced vomiting or laxative misuse in a representative sample of Brazilian adolescent girls and boys. Data from 102,072 students who participated in the National Adolescent School-based Health Survey were analyzed using the dependent variable: presence or absence of self-induced vomiting and/or laxative misuse; independent variables: consumption of unhealthy and high-calorie food items, age during first sexual intercourse, and the use of tobacco, alcohol, and/or illicit drugs. Associations between exposure and outcome were estimated using Poisson's regression models stratified by sex, and including region, school, age group, and mother's educational history as adjustment variables. Eating ultra-processed foods and age during first sexual intercourse were associated with self-induced vomiting and laxative misuse only for girls; all other variables (consuming unhealthy foods and using legal or illicit substances) were associated with these behaviors for both sexes after applying adjustment variables. Early interventions focusing on changing unhealthy behaviors may prevent development of eating disorders in adolescents. Our findings demonstrate a strong association of many unhealthy habits with laxative misuse and self-induced vomiting practices in Brazilian adolescents.

Body Weight Dissatisfaction Is Associated with Cardiovascular Health-Risk Behaviors among Brazilian Adolescents: Findings from a National Survey

Body weight dissatisfaction (BWD) among adolescents may be a predictor of adoption of health-risk behaviors. The study aimed to assess the gendered association between two forms of BWD (feeling underweight/overweight) and cardiovascular health-risk behaviors among Brazilian adolescents. This cross-sectional study used data from the National Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents (ERICA) in Brazil, including 71,740 adolescents aged 12–17 years. BWD was defined as satisfied, dissatisfied feeling underweight and dissatisfied feeling overweight. We considered four health-risk behaviors: tobacco use, alcohol use, physical inactivity and skipping breakfast. Assessment of the associations between BWD and these behaviors were undertaken using logistic regression models. All analyses were stratified by gender. Analyses revealed that 14.9% of male adolescents and 14.5% of female adolescents were dissatisfied feeling underweight and 21.5% of males and 39.9% of females were dissatisfied feeling overweight. Among male adolescents, dissatisfied feeling overweight was associated with greater odds of physical inactivity and skipping breakfast. Among female adolescents, dissatisfied feeling underweight and overweight were associated with higher odds of alcohol use and skipping breakfast. These results highlight the importance of BWD and the association with a range of adolescent health behaviors increasing cardiovascular risk over the life course, depending on gender.

Levels and factors of knowledge about the related health risks of exposure to secondhand smoke among medical students: A cross-sectional study in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

INTRODUCTION

Secondhand smoke (SHS) appears to be an insidious public health issue in Saudi Arabia, with a high percentage of people being reportedly exposed. In an attempt to raise awareness about this issue, we explored medical students' level of knowledge about SHS risks, as well as their levels of exposure to SHS and the correlation between knowledge and exposure.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in February 2020 at the Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. An online, modified version of a validated questionnaire was distributed among 2nd to 6th year medical students. The questionnaire mainly explored the following items: 1) exposure level to SHS; 2) impact of SHS exposure; and 3) knowledge about SHS related health risks, with calculation of a knowledge score (range: 0-8). Adequate knowledge was defined as a score ≥5 (median = 5), and associations with sociodemographic and lifestyle factors and exposure to SHS were analyzed using chi-squared and independent t-test, as appropriate.

RESULTS

Of a total 416 participants, 65.0% declared having one or more smoking persons among acquaintances, 26.4% being exposed to SHS at home, and 40.1% exposed to parental smoking during childhood. Further, 79.8% reported being regularly exposed to SHS in public places. Majority of participants reported significant discomfort (53.2%) and physical symptoms (98.3%) subsequent to SHS exposure. Among the list of 8 health risks, ear infection in children (28.1%), heart attack in children (37.5%), and cognitive deficit (47.8%) were the least frequently identified. Adequate knowledge was found among 57.5% of the participants, and was higher among females and lower among participants living with their friends, compared to their counterparts (p<0.05). No association of knowledge level was observed with the parameters of exposure to SHS and poor discomfort feeling.

CONCLUSIONS

The level of knowledge of medical students about health risks related to passive smoking is inadequate, while their exposure to SHS in public places is still substantial. This urges for the reinforcement of tobacco control strategies and highlights the great interest for medical colleges to implement effective educational interventions by improving their curricula regarding the risks of SHS and the benefits of smoking cessation.

What is the face of new nicotine users? 2012-2018 e-cigarettes and tobacco use among young students in Italy

BACKGROUND

With increased use of electronic-nicotine delivery devices (e-cigarettes) and non-cigarettes tobacco products (heated tobacco products, shisha, moist snuff/snus) among adolescents, the percentage of Italian students who use nicotine products is at its highest level of the past ten years, even though prevention and anti-smoking policies have produced tangible results in decreasing tobacco smoking prevalence. This cross-sectional study examined trends in exclusive and dual smoking, identified new poly-consumption patterns and profiled old and new nicotine users.

METHODS

We used the annual cross-sectional ESPAD® Italia survey which sampled students (aged 15-19), currently used for surveillance and monitoring of at risk population, between 2012 and 2018 (N = 170,974) to describe Italian trends in exclusive cigarette, exclusive vaping, and dual cigarette and vaping use. . For the 2018 sample, patterns of poly-consumption were described, and a multinomial logistic regression (N = 15,732) estimated characteristics associated with exclusive and dual cigarette and vaping use.

RESULTS

The lifetime prevalence of cigarette smokers slightly decreased from 60.9% in 2012 to 56.9% in 2018, whereas the proportion of vaping users substantially increased from 32.9% in 2013 to 52.0% in 2018. Combining cigarette and vaping use, these trends result in an increase in the lifetime prevalence of any use from 60.8% in 2013 to 66.2% in 2018. Three out of every 10 minors have experienced smoking and/or vaping, and younger students were more prone to be dual users. Overall, current vapers were generally less prone to risky behaviours.

CONCLUSION

In contrast to a slight decrease in cigarette smoking, the prevalence of Italian students approaching old and/or new smoking habits in their lifetime is substantially increasing. The popularity of alternative nicotine-based products, particularly e-cigarettes, has increased among teenagers, resulting in a summation of usage patterns rather than a compensation, and attracting a novel slice of young users. The lack of regulation within current drug policy to limit the access to such licit psychoactive substance use, is urgently needed to avoid a future nicotine addicted population.

Smoking as a weight control strategy of Serbian adolescents

OBJECTIVES

The objective is to determine association of age, gender, BMI, body image (body satisfaction, body appearance), depression, unhealthy weight control behaviors with smoking among Serbian adolescents and specifically association of these variables with smoking for weight control among adolescent smokers.

METHODS

This is a secondary analysis of data collected from 2763 students aged 13-15 years old (49.9% boys; 50.1% girls) obtained through cross-sectional Health Behavior in School-aged Children Survey conducted in Serbia in 2018 and analyzed using multivariable logistic regression.

RESULTS

In Serbia, 12.9% adolescents 13-15 years old smoke and 6.6% smoke for weight control, while this practice was present among 48.8% of the smokers. Higher odds of smoking were found among adolescents who perceive themselves thin and good looking, while these two factors didn't play role for the smoking for weight control among smokers. Depression and unhealthy weight control behavior other than smoking significantly predicted smoking and smoking for weight control. Gender was not associated with smoking in adolescents, but among adolescent smokers, boys had two times higher chance compared to girls to report smoking for weight control.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings call for incorporating and strengthening interventions for adolescents' weight control management and mental health as part of smoking prevention and cessation programs.

Relationship between unhealthy weight control behaviors and substance use patterns among Korean adolescents: results from the 2017 national youth risk behavior survey

OBJECTIVE

Unhealthy weight control behaviors (UWCBs) can lead to numerous health problems. Adolescents who engage in UWCB are more likely to abuse substances than other adolescents. However, few studies have examined the relationship between UWCB and substance use, despite the fact that their co-occurrence can result in greater morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to examine the association between UWCB and substance use patterns among Korean adolescents using nationally representative data.

STUDY DESIGN

This study involved an analysis of statistical data collected from 27,284 adolescent participants (13-18 years old) in the 2017 Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey.

METHODS

The Chi-squared test and multiple logistic regression analysis were performed to demonstrate the association between substance use patterns (energy drink intake, alcohol use, cigarette smoking, electronic cigarette use, and drug use) and UWCB (one-food diets, fasting, diet pill use, and purging). All statistical analyses were performed to reflect complex sampling weights.

RESULTS

More female than male adolescents reported to be engaged in any of the following UWCBs: one-food diets (female: 9.6%, male: 4.8%), fasting (female: 11.6%, male: 7.4%), diet pill use (female: 2.9%, male: 1.5%), and purging (female: 4.1%, male: 2.2%). The prevalence of all UWCBs tended to increase as energy drink intake (P < 0.001), cigarette smoking (P < 0.001), and electronic cigarette use (P < 0.001) increased.

CONCLUSIONS

Health professionals who work with adolescents need to be aware of the importance of screening for UWCB, including one-food diets, fasting, diet pill use, and purging, especially as a co-occurrence with substance use.

Relationship of body mass index to sleep duration, and current smoking among medical students in Tabuk City, Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND

Being overweight is associated with cardiometabolic risk, and lifestyles including smoking and good sleep hygiene are also implicated. We aimed to assess the dietary habit, time spent on social media, and sleep duration relationship to body mass index (BMI) among medical students in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 147 clinical phase medical students in the Medical College, University of Tabuk (Saudi Arabia) from January 2018 to May 2018. A checklist questionnaire was used to measure variables such as age, sex, smoking, level of exercise, whether taking meals and snacks regularly, eating fast food, fruit and vegetable consumption, sleep duration, time spent on social media, and breakfast skipping. Data were analyzed by IBM-SPSS version 20, using one-way ANOVA and Pearson's production-moment correlation (r). A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Participants consisted of 51% males, mean age (Mean ± SD) was 22.90±1.27 years, sleep duration was 7.50±2.17 hours, time spent on social media was 5.54±3.49 hours, body mass index was 24.8±5.19, and breakfast skipping, fast food consumption, smoking, and regular exercise were reported in 52.4%, 87.7%, 12.9%, and 36.1% respectively. A significant negative correlation was evident between BMI and sleep duration (r= -0.185, p=0.025), cigarette smokers were more likely to be obese compared to their counterparts (27.28±6.85 vs. 24.10±4.98, p=0.018). No significant statistical relationship was evident between BMI, breakfast skipping, fast food, fruit and vegetable intake, and time spent on social media.

CONCLUSION

BMI was higher among smokers and those with shorter sleep duration, there was no association between BMI and other students' characteristics. Measures to smoking quitting and good sleep hygiene are recommended.

The Relationship between Smoking and Unhealthy Weight Control Behaviors among Korean Adolescents: The Tenth Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey, 2014

Background

Adolescent smoking is positively related to weight control attempts, especially by unhealthy methods. The co-occurrence of smoking and unhealthy weight control behaviors may cause serious health problems in adolescents. This study examined the relationship of smoking with unhealthy weight control behaviors among Korean adolescents.

Methods

This cross-sectional study involved 31,090 students of grades 7 to 12, who had tried to reduce or maintain their weight during the 30 days prior to The Tenth Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey, 2014. Data on height, weight, weight control methods, smoking, alcohol intake, living with one's family, and perceived economic status were obtained through self-report questionnaires. ‘Unhealthy weight control behaviors’ were subcategorized into ‘extreme weight control behaviors’ and ‘less extreme weight control behaviors.’

Results

The smoking rates were 13.3%±0.4% in boys and 3.8%±0.2% in girls. Current smokers were more likely to engage in extreme weight control behaviors (odds ratio [OR], 1.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09 to 2.00 in boys, and OR, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.59 to 2.65 in girls) and less extreme weight control behaviors (OR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.07 to 1.40 in boys, and OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.22 to 1.76 in girls) compared to non-smokers among both boys and girls.

Conclusion

Current smoking is independently related to a high likelihood of engaging in unhealthy weight control behaviors among Korean adolescents. This relationship is stronger for girls than for boys. Extreme weight control behaviors have a stronger relationship with current smoking than less extreme weight control behaviors.

An Examination of the Ethnicity-Specific Prevalence of and Factors Associated with Substance Use and Misuse: Cross-Sectional Analysis of Croatian and Bosniak Adolescents in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Substance use and misuse (SUM) in adolescence is a significant public health problem and the extent to which adolescents exhibit SUM behaviors differs across ethnicity. This study aimed to explore the ethnicity-specific and gender-specific associations among sports factors, familial factors, and personal satisfaction with physical appearance (i.e., covariates) and SUM in a sample of adolescents from Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In this cross-sectional study the participants were 1742 adolescents (17–18 years of age) from Bosnia and Herzegovina who were in their last year of high school education (high school seniors). The sample comprised 772 Croatian (558 females) and 970 Bosniak (485 females) adolescents. Variables were collected using a previously developed and validated questionnaire that included questions on SUM (alcohol drinking, cigarette smoking, and consumption of other drugs), sport factors, parental education, socioeconomic status, and satisfaction with physical appearance and body weight. The consumption of cigarettes remains high (37% of adolescents smoke cigarettes), with a higher prevalence among Croatians. Harmful drinking is also alarming (evidenced in 28.4% of adolescents). The consumption of illicit drugs remains low with 5.7% of adolescents who consume drugs, with a higher prevalence among Bosniaks. A higher likelihood of engaging in SUM is found among children who quit sports (for smoking and drinking), boys who perceive themselves to be good looking (for smoking), and girls who are not satisfied with their body weight (for smoking). Higher maternal education is systematically found to be associated with greater SUM in Bosniak girls. Information on the associations presented herein could be discretely disseminated as a part of regular school administrative functions. The results warrant future prospective studies that more precisely identify the causality among certain variables.

Maternal post-natal tobacco use and current parental tobacco use is associated with higher body mass index in children and adolescents: an international cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

We investigated whether maternal smoking in the first year of life or any current parental smoking is associated with childhood or adolescent body mass index (BMI).

METHODS

Secondary analysis of data from a multi-centre, multi-country, cross-sectional study (ISAAC Phase Three). Parents/guardians of children aged 6-7 years completed questionnaires about their children's current height and weight, whether their mother smoked in the first year of the child's life and current smoking habits of both parents. Adolescents aged 13-14 years completed questionnaires about their height, weight and current parental smoking habits. A general linear mixed model was used to determine the association between BMI and parental smoking.

RESULTS

77,192 children (18 countries) and 194 727 adolescents (35 countries) were included. The BMI of children exposed to maternal smoking during their first year of life was 0.11 kg/m(2) greater than those who were not (P = 0.0033). The BMI of children of currently smoking parents was greater than those with non-smoking parents (maternal smoking: +0.08 kg/m(2) (P = 0.0131), paternal smoking: +0.10 kg/m(2) (P < 0.0001)). The BMI of female adolescents exposed to maternal or paternal smoking was 0.23 kg/m(2) and 0.09 kg/m(2) greater respectively than those who were not exposed (P < 0.0001). The BMI of male adolescents was greater with maternal smoking exposure, but not paternal smoking (0.19 kg/m(2), P < 0.0001 and 0.03 kg/m(2), P = 0.14 respectively).

CONCLUSION

Parental smoking is associated with higher BMI values in children and adolescents. Whether this is due to a direct effect of parental smoking or to confounding cannot be established from this observational study.

The relation between internet use and overweight among adolescents: a longitudinal study in Switzerland

OBJECTIVE

This longitudinal study aimed to investigate the characteristics and predictive risk factors of overweight among adolescents. The hypothesis was that baseline overweight predicted most overweight over time compared to other factors, especially excessive internet use.

SUBJECTS

A sample of 621 youths were followed from age 14 (T0 Spring 2012) to age 16 (T1 Spring 2014) in Switzerland. Participants were divided into two groups according to their weight at the final assessment: overweight and non-overweight. At T0, participants reported demographic, health, substance use and internet use data. A logistic regression was performed to assess the explanatory variables of overweight at T1. Data are presented as adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence interval.

RESULTS

The 2-year evolution showed a net BMI increase of 4.8%. Overweight adolescents were significantly more likely to be male, to live in an urban area, to be on a diet and to report using the internet more than 2 h per day on weekends at T0. However, with the addition of baseline overweight, only the excessive use of internet on weekends remained as an explanatory variable. An adolescent who was already overweight at T0 had a more than 20-fold risk (aOR 21.04) of being overweight 2 years later. Moreover, among adolescents becoming overweight between T0 and T1, internet use did not show any significant effect.

CONCLUSION

The risk of being overweight is mostly influenced by weight status at baseline compared to excessive internet use. Thus, our results do not confirm the negative effect of internet on healthier activities. Internet use could at most reinforce an already existing risk of being overweight.

Prevalence and determinants of male adolescents' smoking in iran: an explanation based on the theory of planned behavior

Background

Adolescent smoking problem has still remained as a public health concern, but factors that attributing to the initiation of adolescent smoking are not well known in Iran.

Objectives

The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of smoking, and its associations among high school male adolescents in Iran, in the context of the theory of planned behavior (TPB).

Patients and Methods

This was a cross-sectional study involving male adolescent students (high school) in the city of Zarandieh, Iran. A multiple-stage sampling protocol was used. The participants completed an anonymous, voluntary, and self-report questionnaire. Prevalence was estimated, and demographic variables, psychological factors, and the theory of planned behavior components were used to indicate factors contributing to adolescents’ cigarette smoking.

Results

In all, 365 students were entered the study. The mean age of respondents was 16.49 ± 1.11 years. The prevalence of current smoking was 15.1%. The result obtained from logistic regression analysis revealed that all theory of planned behavior (TPB) components [knowledge (OR = 0.75; 95% CI: (0.59-0.97), attitude (OR = 0.75; 95% CI: (0.65-0.86), self-efficacy (OR = 0.82; 95% CI: (0.71-0.95), subjective norms (OR = 0.84; 95% CI: (0.72-0.98)] were significant predating factors for adolescents smoking habits. In addition, having parents who smoke (OR = 4.75; 95% CI: (1.38-12.35), smoking friends (OR = 3.76; 95% CI: (1.20-11.76), and smoking siblings (OR = 4.21; 95% CI: (1.17-11.16) were significant contributing factors to adolescents’ cigarette smoking behavior.

Conclusions

The results showed that the prevalence of cigarette smoking in adolescents was high, and the theory of planned behavior (TPB) components were significant predictors of cigarette smoking. It seems that interventions targeting adolescents’ smoking habits might benefit using the TPB model.

Significant others, knowledge, and belief on smoking as factors associated with tobacco use in italian adolescents

Tobacco use is dramatically increasing among youth. Growing attention has been addressed towards possible predictors of smoking in such a population. We evaluated a sample of Italian adolescents to verify whether adults and peers might influence their smoking status. Cross-sectional study was conducted in 16 schools of North Italy. Data were collected from 2001 to 2010 by means of a self-administered questionnaire on sociodemographic data and individual/social possible predictors of smoking. 2,444 students (56.7% boys; 43.3% girls; mean = 14.32 ± 1.384 years) were analysed. 607 (24.8%) were current smokers; 1,837 (75.2%) were nonsmokers. The presence of smokers in the family, seeing teachers who smoke, the influence of friends, and the feeling of inferiority were predictors of youth smoking as well as unawareness of nicotine dangerous action to health. Running the logistic multivariate analysis with all the variables listed above in the same model, the strongest predictors of smoking were as follows: being unaware that pipe/cigar is harmful to health as cigarettes; not knowing that passive smoking is harmful to the growth of children; having seen teachers smoking. The present findings help to identify the variables that might favour smoking in youth. Such variables should become the target of prevention programs.