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Abstract

Conflicting reports have been presented concerning changes in the prevalence of cigarette smoking among school-age children. The purpose of this study was to compare smoking rates among children who were in grade 6 in 1975 or 1978, and the variables related to smoking in these two years. Results from 1,428 children were available. After controlling for possible confounding variables, analyses using multiple regression models indicated that neither year of testing nor sex were significantly related to smoking, demonstrating that there was no discernible change in prevalence in this age group over a three year period and that the distribution of involvement with cigarettes by sex was similar for both years. In addition, it was found, using stepwise analysis, that peer smoking and attitude toward cigarettes showed the strongest relationship to involvement with cigarettes in both years. However, the final models were not completely concordant. Academic achievement and aspirations entered the 1975 model, while smoking exposure variables entered the 1978 model. Implications of the results for smoking education programs are discussed.

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Prevalence of and Factors Related to Cigarette Smoking among Students in Grade 6

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