The relation of modelling and the perception of parental care with adolescent smoking: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

The smoking of tobacco among adolescents is due to several influential factors, both individual and social. The present study aimed at comparing the effects of different variables on adolescent cigarette smoking, specifically, peer and parent modelling, self-regulatory efficacy, and parental degree of care as perceived by the adolescent. Data were collected by means of a self-report questionnaire administered to a sample of 229 secondary school students aged between 15 and 20 years (mean = 16.69, SD = 1.14). To test the influence of different variables, we performed a binary logistic regression analysis. Results indicated that the father is a key figure in that his care and affection can prevent adolescents from becoming a smoker and his modelling is a risk factor. The significant influence of friends was also confirmed and indicated that peer modelling is a strong predictor of adolescent cigarette smoking. Finally, the results revealed that self-regulatory efficacy is a relevant psychological variable capable of preventing smoking initiation during adolescence.

Keywords:

• Adolescence
• tobacco use
• parental care
• modelling
• self-regulatory efficacy