Smoking and Peer Preference in College Students: an exploratory study

Abstract

Background:Smoking in adolescents is related to multiple factors like genetics, family variables and peer preference and influence. The aim of the following study was to study the prevalence of smoking and age of initiation college students while comparing peer preferences in smoker and non-smoker college students. Methods: 100 college students were divided on the basis of current smoking status into two groups. These two groups were administered the Evers-Pasquale peer preference test and the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS). Sociodemographic variables were assessed using a semi-structured proforma. The data was then statistically analysed. Results: The prevalence of current smoking was 54%. Almost 44% of college students had initiated smoking at or after 16 years of age, whereas only 4% of the entire sample had initiated smoking before 10 years of age. Close to one fifth (18.52%) of current smokers smoked daily and smoked cigarettes first in morning suggesting dependence. Students who currently smoked were most likely to engage in any activity in the company of best friends, followed by cool friends (p = 0.0001). Conclusion: Smoking and peer pressure are linked and there is a need for tobacco intervention programmes to be directed at adolescent specific factors. Further research is needed to understand other factors promoting smoking like personality factors, social influence, genetic factors etc.

Cigarette smoking prevalence and associated factors among college students, Amhara, Ethiopia

“…The similarity may be due to large sample size of previous studies. This finding is lower than college and university students reported in Pakistan 10.7% [ 15 ], and Iran (11% Kerman College and 21% Semnan Province) [ 22 , 29 ], 12.94% in Rajasthan [ 16 ], 13.7% in Nigeria [ 2 ], 14.7% in Malaysia [ 30 ], 60% in Dhaka Bangladesh [ 17 ], 54% in India [ 31 ], 14% in Western Saudi Arabia [ 19 ], 12.4% in Yemen [ 20 ], and 10.5% in Iraq [ 27 ]. Furthermore, previous studies in Ethiopia university students indicated prevalence of 11.3% in Wollo [ 32 ], 11.8% in Adigrat [ 33 ], 14.5% Jigjiga [ 23 ], 19.17% in Dilla [ 25 ], and 20.6% in Hawassa [ 24 ].…”