Emotional, behavioural problems and cigarette smoking in adolescence: findings of a Greek cross-sectional study

• Glavni autori: Rotsika Vasiliki (Autor), Kolaitis Gerasimos (Autor), Dimitrakaki Christine (Autor), Tzavara Chara (Autor), Giannakopoulos George (Autor), Tountas Yannis (Autor)
• Format: Knjiga
• Izdano: BMC, 2010-02-01T00:00:00Z.
• Teme: article
• Online pristup: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.1186/1471-2458-10-57; 1471-2458
• Keywords: Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270
• Source: BMC Public Health, Vol 10, Iss 1, p 57 (2010)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although several studies have reported findings concerning the association between smoking and emotional/behavioural problems, little research has investigated this association after controlling for confounding factors which have been found to be significantly correlated with both cigarette smoking and emotional/behavioural problems and may have a strong effect on the relationship between adolescents' mental health and smoking. The present study attempted to assess the association between adolescents' smoking status and their emotional/behavioural problems after controlling for a number of possible confounders (i.e. age, gender, parental smoking status, exposure to family smoking, family socioeconomic status, adolescents' leisure time) in a Greek nation-wide school-based sample.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Participants completed a questionnaire which retrieved information about age, gender, family socioeconomic status, smoking status, parental smoking, adolescents' leisure time and emotional/behavioural problems. Data were modelled using multiple logistic regression analysis with adolescents' smoking status as the dependent variable.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 1194 (i.e. 63% response rate) of self-reported questionnaires (40.1% boys, 59.9% girls; 12-18 years old) were returned. Data from 1030 participants with full data were analyzed. Cigarette smoking was strongly associated with higher levels of emotional/behavioural problems (p < 0.001) and the association was not moderated (OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.08-1.18) after controlling for the effects of other covariates. Emotional symptoms, conduct problems and hyperactivity/inattention were all significantly associated with adolescents' current smoking.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study supports the association between smoking and emotional/behavioural problems among adolescents. Addressing adolescents' needs regarding their emotional/behavioural health could be helpful in the development of effective anti-smoking strategies in school environment and elsewhere.</p>