PREDICTORS OF RISK FOR DIFFERENT STAGES OF ADOLESCENT SMOKING IN A BIRACIAL SAMPLE

This investigation was designed to identify the risk factors associate d with different stages of cigarette use in a large biracial adolescen t sample. A questionnaire assessing smoking habits and variables thoug ht to be related to smoking was administered to 6,967 7th graders. Ana lysis revealed that the best predictor of experimentation with cigaret tes was the perception that they were easily available. Regular smokin g appeared to be heavily influenced by cost. Social influences contrib uted to both experimental and regular smoking, but the impact of socia l models varied with ethnicity and gender. Analysis further revealed t hat weight-related variables were closely tied to regular smoking. Imp lications of the findings for smoking prevention programs are discusse d.