DIFFERENTIAL INFLUENCE OF PARENTAL SMOKING AND FRIENDS SMOKING ON ADOLESCENT INITIATION AND ESCALATION OF SMOKING

Smoking-related behaviors and attitudes of significant others (especia lly friends and parents) are among the most consistent predictors of a dolescent smoking. However, theorists remain divided on whether the be haviors of significant others influence adolescent smoking directly or indirectly, and the relative influence of parental and peer smoking o n adolescents' own smoking is still a matter of debate. In addition, l ittle research has examined the role of significant others' behavior o n different stages of smoking onset. In particular, not much informati on is available regarding gender and ethnic differences in social infl uences on smoking behavior. We use structural equation modeling to add ress these issues. Different theoretical perspectives from cognitive-a ffective theories (Ajzen 1985; Ajzen and Fishbein 1980) and social lea rning theories (Akers et al. 1979; Bandura 1969, 1982, 1986) have been integrated into a structural model of smoking influence. The results show that friends' smoking affects adolescent initiation into smoking both directly and indirectly, whereas parental smoking influences smok ing initiation only indirectly. The data also show that friends' and p arents' smoking affect smoking escalation only indirectly. In general, friends' smoking has a stronger effect on adolescents' smoking behavi or, particularly on initiation. Multiple group comparisons of the stru ctural models predicting smoking initiation among males and females re veal that parental approval of smoking plays a significant mediating r ole for females, but not for males. Comparisons of Whites, Blacks, His panics, and other ethnic groups reveal that there are some significant differences in the pathways of friends' influences among the four gro ups.