Smoking among teenage girls

The current paper reviews the existing literature about smoking among teena ge girls. We begin with a summary of recent epidemiological data concerning gender differences in the rates of various smoking behaviors among adolesc ents. We next focus on how gender may influence smoking initiation, mainten ance, and cessation among adolescents. Specifically, we examine weight cont rol motives, social influences, mood management motives, and image-related motives as particularly important factors in teenage girls' smoking. We the n offer a brief review of some of the more popular adolescent smoking inter ventions. Wt: conclude the paper with recommendations for ways in which the effectiveness of smoking prevention and intervention programs for girls ma y be improved.