Abstract

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence of cigarette smoking and to examine the influence of social factors on smoking in adolescents. One thousand forty nine 2 nd grade students (713 males and 336 females; mean age 16.3±0.7 years) filled out a detailed questionnaire about smoking. The prevalence of smokers was 23.2% (males 22.7%, females 24.1%; p>0.05). Smoking habits of the students were not relat - ed with the education or social status of their parents. Although smoking behavior among students was not associated with the smoking status of their parents, a relationship was observed with siblings’ behavior (p<0.01). It was observed that as the age of smoking initiation dropped or smoking time increased, the amount of cigarettes smoked per day increased (p<0.01). Among students who were smoking, 68.8% report - ed that they intended to quit and 42% reported at least an attempt to quit in the past. This study demon - strates that smoking behavior of siblings is the most important factor among the familial factors. A large pro - portion of high school smokers wants to quit smoking but is unsuccessful. Therefore, we consider that young smokers who are already motivated to quit need more energetic cessation programs.