Young people smoking.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, "Most of the 45 million adult smokers in the United States began smoking during adolescence." More than one third of the kids who try tobacco will become regular smokers before finishing high school. There are several variables when it comes to the influences of smoking in our youth.
Basic Influences of Young People Smoking
The initial use of tobacco closely correlates with lower income families, combined with parental education being low, and the age of the child. The common ages for a young adult to start smoking is between the 11 and 16. A young person who starts smoking early in life is more likely to continue smoking throughout his adult years.
Peer Pressure
Peer pressure is still the strongest contributor to teen smoking. Among teens, 64 percent of her important information comes from peers. This is the time of life when the typical teenager discovers who she is. He is breaking away from the constraints of teachers, parents and society. With this comes a need to find her identity. In the Sept.- Oct. 2003 issue of "Pediatric Nursing," Elizabeth Anthony Mattey and Janice Selekman state that teens "are looking for alternatives to help resolve questions of identity. They find these alternatives in shared behavior among their friends." A Knights Against Tobacco study shows that when a youth felt as though one or more of his peers were smoking, he was more likely to smoke. Whereas, when he felt as though it was not an accepted practice, he was less likely to smoke.
Advertising Influences
Advertising is everywhere and still affects youthful decision when it comes to smoking. In the earlier ages of 10 to 11, only 38 percent of youth say they get their information from television and the movies. Whereas up to 61 percent of teens get their information from television and movies. With tobacco advertising restricted on television, there are still ads at local retail outlets and gas stations.
Parental Communication
Parental communication is still a very important aspect that influences youth decisions. Parents who maintain a good line of communication with their children have a strong effect on decision to smoke. An adolescent who feels one of his parents will disapprove of his smoking is less likely to start smoking. When both parents (and not just one) might be upset, the adolescent has a significant deterrent.
Tags: felt though, from television, from television movies, Influences Young, Influences Young People, information from, information from television