Adolescents' smoking behavior and attitudes: The influence of parents' smoking communication, behavior and attitudes
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate perceptual similarities and differences between adolescents and their parents in regard to adolescent and parental smoking behavior, adolescent and parental attitudes towards smoking, and adolescent and parental perceptions regarding smoking communication. The current research developed and utilized instruments that were designed to measure potential multidimensional smoking communication messages, including anti-smoking messages, pro-smoking messages, smoking inquiries, smoking rules, message consistency and messenger credibility. Instruments were also developed to adequately assess adolescent and parent smoking attitudes by including dimensions of both awareness and concern for smoking outcomes. One hundred and forty mother-adolescent dyads were examined. Factor analyses were used for instrument development. Regression and correlation analyses were used for hypotheses testing. Results indicate that adolescents' perceptions of mothers' smoking related inquiries and adolescents' smoking attitudes predicted adolescents' smoking behavior. Adolescents' perceptions of mothers' consistent and credible anti-smoking messages, smoking related inquiries, and mothers' smoking attitudes predicted adolescents' smoking attitudes. Adolescents' perceptions of mothers' consistent and credible anti-smoking messages mediated the relation of mothers' smoking attitudes and adolescents' smoking attitudes. Mothers' smoking behavior and attitudes predicted mothers' self-reported communication of smoking consequences, anti-smoking involvement, and smoking rules. Positive correlations were found between several of adolescents' and mothers' reports of smoking communication. The present research suggests that the adolescent-mother smoking communication process is an important area to further explore in understanding adolescents' smoking behavior. Smoking prevention efforts should include parent smoking communication strategies.
Subject Area
Developmental psychology|Social psychology|Families & family life|Personal relationships|Sociology
Recommended Citation
Herbert, Diane Frances, "Adolescents' smoking behavior and attitudes: The influence of parents' smoking communication, behavior and attitudes" (2000). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI9964567.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI9964567
