THE NATURAL-HISTORY OF CIGARETTE-SMOKING FROM ADOLESCENCE TO ADULTHOOD - DEMOGRAPHIC-PREDICTORS OF CONTINUITY AND CHANGE

The current study examined the natural history of smoking from adolesc ence to adulthood in a community sample. Participants were from a long itudinal study (N = 4,035, 51.7% female, average age = 29 years). Grou p-level analyses showed a significant increase in smoking from adolesc ence to young adulthood and a nonsignificant decline after the mid-20s . Individual-level analyses showed that there was appreciable cessatio n and relapse but little new initiation in adulthood. Both adolescent and young adult smoking status were powerful predictors of adult smoki ng. Moreover, there was less cessation among less educated individuals and those with smoking parents, and more cessation among those who as sumed adult social roles. The findings support the importance of preve ntion campaigns aimed at adolescent smoking and also suggest that thos e with lower educational attainment or with a family history of smokin g are at heightened risk.