Recent Increase in Adolescent Cigarette Smoking

Abstract

Recent increase in adolescent cigarette smoking is examined. Prior studies have found relationship between teen-age smoking and smoking practices of peers, poor scholastic performance, and such personality characteristics as social precocity, rebelliousness, and experimental and risk-taking propensities. Values of many of today's youth are those found to be characteristic of teen-age smokers in previous studies. Social and psychological observers of adolescents and recent survey data suggest rapid acceleration of changes in values, mores, and attitudes toward adult institutions. It is hypothesized that opposition to authority and rejection of traditional goals of academic achievement, worldly success, hard work, and delayed gratification together with increased reliance on peer values and widespread use of marihuana create environment favorable to adolescent cigarette use.