Date of Award
5-1996
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Nursing
Abstract
Adolescent tobacco use is on the rise in the United States. It is a significant health problem. In spite of the fact that adult smoking has decreased dramatically since 1964, the number of adolescent smokers remains high and has not decreased for the last 7 years (Winkelstein, 1992). The purpose of this study was to investigate adolescent tobacco use among ninth-grade students in five rural communities. Specifically, the following questions were addressed:
1. What is the incidence of tobacco use among ninth graders in rural communities?
2. Which variables influence rural adolescents' tobacco use?
3. Where and from whom do rural adolescents most often obtain their tobacco products?
All ninth-grade students in five rural Clay County schools were asked to complete the Teen Tobacco Use Survey. There was a 90% response rate. The findings indicated that 25% of all ninth graders in five rural communities smoke cigarettes (31% males, 19% females). Further, there were significant differences in the percentage of ninth graders who smoke and in the age at which they began to smoke by school. No differences were noted in the amount smoked by school.
Significantly, ninth graders whose siblings smoke, whose friends smoke, and whose mother smokes are more likely to smoke than other ninth graders. Nearly two-thirds of the ninth graders who smoke obtain tobacco products from an adult friend. This percentage is higher among females (85%) than among males (49%). Slightly less than one-third of the students purchase the products themselves.
Data also indicate which brand of cigarettes ninth graders prefer to smoke (67% chose Marlboro) and what influences them to choose a particular brand (65% said taste). Of all respondents (335), 33 indicated they use chewing tobacco (30 males, 3 females). Additionally, 42 of 72 respondents who smoke indicated that the reason they began to smoke was because of peer pressure. Recommendations are made related to change in policy, education, practice, and future research.
Recommended Citation
Provo, Kay L., "Adolescent tobacco use : a generation up in smoke" (1996). Theses and Dissertations. 11077.
https://commons.und.edu/theses/11077