Identifying trajectories of adolescent smoking: An application of latent growth mixture modeling

The goal of the current study was to identify discrete longitudinal pattern s of change in adolescent smoking using latent growth mixture modeling. Fiv e distinct longitudinal patterns were identified. A group of early rapid es calators was characterized by early escalation (at age 13) that rapidly inc reased to heavy smoking. A pattern characterized by occasional puffing up u ntil age 15, at which time smoking escalated to moderate levels was also id entified (late moderate escalators). Another group included adolescents who , after age 15, began to escalate slowly in their smoking to light (0.5 cig arettes per month) levels (late slow escalators). Finally, a group of stabl e light smokers (those who smoked 1-2 cigarettes per month) and a group of stable puffers (those. who smoked only a few puffs per month) were also ide ntified. The stable puffer group was the largest group and represented 25% of smokers.