Smoking Behavior in Asthmatic and Non-Asthmatic Adolescents: The Role of Smoking Models and Personality

Abstract

Despite the particular health risks for asthmatics, recent international studies have reported that tobacco use among asthmatics is similar to, or even higher than, non-asthmatics. This study examined the role of personality and environment in smoking among asthmatic and non-asthmatic adolescents. In 2003 a random sample of 33 schools (first and second class of secondary education) was obtained in The Netherlands (N = 4,951). The mean age of the participants was 12.83 (SD =. 75), and 52.8% were females. Information about asthma, smoking, personality, and environmental smoking was assessed via self-reports on standard epidemiology survey items (asthma, smoking) and the Quick Big Five (personality). Both personality and environmental smoking were associated with smoking. Asthmatics were similarly or even more exposed to environmental smoke than non-asthmatic adolescents and asthmatic adolescents were less emotionally stable and extravert. Associations between personality and own smoking behavior, as well as between smoking models and own smoking behavior were similar for asthmatic and non-asthmatics. Limitations of the study are taken notice of, and implications of the results are briefly discussed.

Keywords:

• Smoking behavior
• adolescents
• asthma
• smoking models
• personality
• protective factors
• risk factors
• normative
• active smoking
• passive smoking
• environmental tobacco smoke exposure (ETS)
• Quick Big Five

Abbreviations
ISAAC	=	International Study of Asthma and Allergy in ChildhooD
OR	=	odds ratio
CI	=	confidence interval

Abbreviations
ISAAC	=	International Study of Asthma and Allergy in ChildhooD
OR	=	odds ratio
CI	=	confidence interval

Notes

Notes

1. As an initiative from Auckland, New Zealand, and Bochum, Germany, the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC), was formed in 1991 to facilitate research into asthma, allergic rhinitis, and eczema by promoting a standardized methodology. ISAAC is a unique project which has attracted worldwide interest and unprecedented large-scale participation. It uses simple methods for measuring the prevalence of childhood asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic eczema for international comparisons, suitable for different geographical locations and languages. http://www.isaac.auckland.ac.nz