SMOKING-HABITS IN FRENCH ADOLESCENTS

A survey on adolescent smoking habits was carried out among 2,587 girl s and boys, mostly aged between 11 and 16 and belonging to 16 schools representative of the 'departement' of Rhone in France, in order to ev aluate present smoking behaviour as well as estimate the influence of parents, friends and sociodemographic factors in acquiring or maintain ing the habit. Students were surveyed in schools using a self-administ ered, anonymous questionnaire. Analysis was carried out using both the univariate and logistic methods, aiming at a precise quantification a nd description of the smoking habit, as well as an identification of p redictors of smoking, separately for girls and boys, and also for trie rs only, occasional and regular smokers. Smoking regularly increases w ith age and from the age of 14 becomes slightly more prevalent among g irls than boys. The influence of peer smoking (group of friends and be st friend) seems stronger than parental smoking, although determinants of smoking differ moderately for girls and boys.