A PSYCHOSOCIAL INVESTIGATION OF SMOKING TRAITS IN HIGH-SCHOOL PUPILS

Five hundred fifteen high school pupils (in the age group 14-18 years) in Holon were surveyed about their experience with smoking, as well a s their attitude toward cigarettes and their potential damage. Of thes e pupils, 18.79% had reported smoking at the time of the study, and 28 .57% had smoked in the past and stopped. The prevalence of smoking is maximal in the age group 15-16 years (7.77%). The prevalence of smokin g among boys is higher than that among girls (63.25% vs 36.75%) (p < 0 .01). The boys began to smoke earlier than the girls (p < 0.001). Ther e was no correlation found between smoking habits and the ethnic origi n or familial socioeconomic level (according to parental occupation an d family income). The pupils' source of knowledge about cigarettes and smoking came from TV (29.6%), newspapers (21.7%), parents (13.9%), fr iends (9.6%), radio (8.7%), books (8%), physicians and nurses (7.5%). Our recommendations are that the health education and preventive immun ization of these youth against cigarettes should begin as early as in kindergarten (from 4 years of age and up) and continue through all the subsequent school years.