School achievement as an independent predictor of smoking in childhood and early adolescence

Abstract

THIS study was designed to examine the relative value of academic achievement as an independent predictor of young people smoking. A wide range of variables was used in the analyses, including measures related to family background, attitudes to smoking, exposure to smoking among family and friends, and self-esteem. After the effect of these variables had been taken into account, academic achievement at age 9 was not related to smoking at age 9 but academic achievement at age 11 was related to a change in smoking from age 9 to 11 years, and for boys, further change in smoking from age 11 to age 13. Other predictors of smoking at these ages varied as a function of age and gender.