A comparison study was made between attitudes of asthmatic and nonasthmatic adolescents toward cigarettes and smoking. Subjects were 67 asthmatic 9th- to 12th-grade students, of whom 38 (57%) had active asthma with recurrent cough and/or dyspneic attacks and 29 (43%) had reactive airway disease and/or the least severe form of asthma expressed by recurrent cough. The control group included 62 nonasthmatic students from the same high school. All subjects completed a questionnaire to determine attitudes, beliefs, and intentions regarding smoking. Their responses suggested that the group at highest risk of becoming smokers were those who had previously had asthma. The same adolescents had a more positive attitude toward cigarettes and smoking, a stronger intention to become smokers, and a self-image more closely linked with their perceptions of smokers. Thus, these adolescents may represent a high-risk group for becoming smokers in the future.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Pandina RJ, Huber GLTobacco, nicotine and the question of addiction: what to do about a difficult problem?Semin Respir Infect. 1990;11:50-68.
2.
Report of the Surgeon General ( 1988). The Health Consequences of Smoking and Nicotine Addiction . Washington, DC: Department of Health and Human Services. 1988;75-144.
3.
Rawborne RG, Guz A.Cigarette smoking among secondary school children, 1975-79. Arch Dis Child.1982 ;57:353-358.
4.
Kijala P.Smoking, respiratory symptoms and ventilatory capacity in young men . Eur J Respir Dis.1981 ;62(suppl):1141-1144.
5.
Franceschinis R, Macciocchi A, Perruchoud D, eds. Tobacco smoke: respiratory tract defense mechanisms and therapeutic implications. Eur J Respir Dis.1985;139(suppl):72-79.
6.
Townsend J., Wilkes H., Haines A., Jarvis M.Adolescent smokers seen in general practice: health, lifestyle, physical measurements and response to anti-smoking advice. BMJ.1991;303:947-950.
7.
Wallace PG, Haines AP, Brennan PJAre GPs doing enough to promote healthy lifestyles? Finding of the MRC General Practice Research Framework Study on Lifestyle and Health. BMJ.1987;294:940-942.
8.
Brook U., Alkalay Y.The attitude of high school pupils toward cigarettes and smoking. Harefuah.1991;21:532-534.
9.
Epstein LM, Tamir I.Social health behavior among high school pupils: smoking habits. Harefuah.1982;102:303-306.
10.
Chassin L., Presson CC, Sherman SJSocial psychological contributions to the understanding and prevention of adolescent cigarette smoking. Personality Soc Psychol Bull.1990;16:133-151.
11.
Glyan TJSchool Programs to Prevent Smoking. Bethesda, MD : Department of Health, NIH Publication No. 90-500, 1990.
12.
Epps RP, Manley MNThe clinician's role in preventing smoking initiation. Med Clin North Am.1992;76:439-449.
13.
Kronenberg R., Stechshutts DJ, Drazen JNCommittee for Asthma, American Thoracic Society. Standards for diagnosis and care of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and asthma. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1987 ;13:225-244.
14.
Hirschman RS , Leventhal H.Preventing smoking behavior in school children: an initial test of a cognitive-developmental program. J Appl Soc PsychoL1989;19:559-583.
15.
Ajzen I., Timko C.Correspondence between health attitudes and behavior. Basic Appl Soc Phychol.1986;7:259-276.
16.
Norman NN, Tedeschi JTSelf-presentation, reason, action, and adolescents' decisions to smoke cigarettes . J Appl Soc Psychol. 1989;19:543-559.
17.
Leventhal H. , Diefenbach M., Leventhal EAIllness cognition: using common sense to understand treatment adherence and affect-cognition interactions . Cogn Ther Res. 1992;16:143-163.
18.
Croyle RTAppraisal of health threats: cognition, motivation, and social comparison . Cogn Ther Res. 1992 ;16:165-182.
19.
Tipton RMThe effects of beliefs about smoking and health on smoking cessation . JPsychol.1988;122:313-321.
20.
McCaul KD, Glasgow REPreventing adolescent smoking: what have we learned about treatment construct validity ?Health Psychol.1985;4:361-387.
21.
Chassin L., Presson CC, Sherman SJ, Edwards DAFour pathways to young adults' smoking status: adolescent social- psychological antecedents in a Midwestern community sample. Health Psychol.1991;10:409-418.
22.
Erikson EHIdentification as the basis for a theory of motivation. Am Psychol Rev.1950;26:14-21.
23.
Kaplan HBDeviant Behavior in Defense of Self. Orlando, FL : Academic Press; 1980.
24.
Murray DM, Richards PS, Luepker RV, Johnson CAThe prevention of cigarette smoking in children: two and three year follow-up comparisons of four prevention strategies. JBehav Med.1987;10:595-611.
25.
Rundall TG, Brunold WHA meta-analysis of school-based smoking and alcohol use prevention programs . Health Educ Q1988;15:317-334.
26.
Stacy RD, Loyd BHAn investigation of beliefs about smoking among diabetes patients: information for improving cessation efforts. Pat Educ Counseling.1990;15:181-189.
