Age of initiation, smoking patterns, and risk in a population of working adults

Background. Early age of initiation is a significant risk factor for long-t erm dependent smoking and may also relate to other unhealthy behaviors and increased likelihood of illness, independent of duration of smoking. Methods. The current study assessed age of initiation in relation to cigare tte dependence, interest in quitting, social environment pertaining to smok ing, behavioral risk factors, and current health problems. Subjects were 21 20 current daily smokers in 24 worksites in the Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minne sota, metropolitan area. Results. Findings were surprisingly consistent with early age of initiation predicting more dependent smoking, less interest and confidence in ability to quit, poorer diet, less use of seat belts, more illness and hospitaliza tion, and greater likelihood of smoking among partner/spouse, friends, and co-workers. Conclusions. The overall strength of the findings was unexpected. Early ini tiation of regular smoking predicted a significant constellation of risk fa ctors throughout adulthood. Interventions that significantly delay smoking onset, even in the absence of permanent prevention, could have important pu blic health implications. (C) 1999 American Health Foundation and Academic Press.