Sex and gender differences in tobacco smoking among adolescents in French secondary schools

Abstract

Aim. We investigated the relationship between sex (genetic/biological) and gender (environmental/ cultural) factors in relation to adolescent tobacco smoking. Methods. A representative sample of 11,582 students from French secondary public schools participated in the study by completing a self-administered, standardised questionnaire. Results. Using the WHO classification for smoking in the youth, 15.6% of the adolescents were regular smokers, 7.7% occasional smokers, 17.9% experimental smokers and 4.8% ex-smokers, with no statistically significant gender difference. Taking non-smoking as a reference, puberty had a much greater effect on the likelihood of being a regular smoker [OR=18.0 (95% Confidence Interval: 9.6- 32)] than of being an experimental/occasional smoker [OR=3.7 (2.9-4.6)] among girls. For boys, the effect of puberty was not as great [OR=4.7 (3.5-6.5)] for regular vs. [OR=2.1 (1.8-2.5)] for experimental/occasional smokers). Similarly, illicit drug use had a larger effect on the likelihood of being regular smoker vs. non-smoker [OR=15.0 (12.0-20.0) in boys and 12 (8.8-16.0) in girls] than of being experimental/occasional smoker vs. a non-smoker [OR=4.8 (3.7-6.1) and 2.9 (2.1-3.9) respectively]. Other factors related to regular smoking were exposure to passive smoking and regular alcohol consumption. Living with both parents was a protective factor for life and regular smoking in both genders. Conclusions. Our results show that influential factors of sex-related (puberty), gender-specific (environmental tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, drug abuse) or sex/gender (regular sexual intercourse) are related to the smoking behaviour in French adolescents.

Smoking Trends: A Cross Sectional Study in Dengkil, Sepang, Selangor, Malaysia

“…The prevalent culture which is more accepting of male smokers compared female smokers [16] might explained to the higher prevalence of smoking among male, as shown as in our result (50.7%) and other studies. [17,18] The higher prevalence also might be due to their role as the breadwinner of the family, [19] that men contributed 71% of the total couple income and were economically dependent in approximately 15% of couples.…”

Association between parental separation and addictions in adolescents: results of a National Lebanese Study

“…Female gender was significantly associated with lower waterpipe dependence, in line with other studies [48,49]. The explanation could be that the prevalent culture in Lebanon accepts more male rather than female smokers [50]. Further, older age was significantly associated with lower smoking scores, in line with one previous study [51] but contradictory with others [48,52].…”

Factors associated with different smoking statuses among Malaysian adolescent smokers: a cross-sectional study

“…Asian males are also at a significantly greater risk of smoking than females, who were between 7 and 15 times less likely than males to report any smoking behavior [18]. This may be explained by the prevalent culture which is more accepting of male smokers compared female smokers [19]. However, the risk of smoking EC is lower compared to the risk of smoking CC for males.…”

“…Worldwide, males are more at risk of smoking behavior compared to females [14–17], even though the gap is smaller in European countries compared to Asia [18]. This phenomenon has been attributed to social stereotypes of smoking as being “unfeminine” [19]. Early adolescents are at less risk of smoking compared to older adolescents [2, 20–22].…”