Cigarette smoking was found tobe significantly related to social status for females, but not for males. Smoking was closely related to peer group membership, and peer group memberships related closely to each individual's position in the social status system. A feeling of failure to achieve appeared to be related to tendency for ninth graders to…

People are becoming more aware of the dangers of smoking, but nonsmokers still find it difficult to avoid inhaling second-hand smoke. Ways to separate smokers from nonsmokers in public places and to get smokers to refrain from smoking in the presence of nonsmokers are discussed. (IS)

Factors most likely to predict teenage smoking are defined, based on a study of 6th through 12th grade students. The importance of social factors--the number of best friends who smoke, whether parents and siblings smoke--is stressed. (PP)

A Survey of youth agencies examined and found evidence of adult leaders' influence on their youths' health practices. Mediating influences included formal and informal health programs and explicit policies regarding smoking and fitness for both leaders and youths. Identified significant gaps in the potential influence of such measures. (Author)

Surveyed college women and men and found that caffeine was consumed by a large proportion of the respondents. Women consumed a larger amount of caffeine and used more substances containing this drug. An increase in caffeine usage with increased psychic stress was observed for women only. (Author)

A study was done on the responsibility of schools for providing smoking education programs consistent with current information. Results indicate an omission of planned experiences in high school curricula concerning the effects of smoking on health. (JN)

Oral disease risks regarding the use of tobacco arise not only from smoking but also from the oral use of tobacco in the form of snuff. Such diseases range from simple tooth decay to various forms of cancer. A fact list is suggested for presenting the risks to school-age youth. (JN)

Tested a strategy where didactic material on smoking and topics such as social approval, academic achievement, and career success were presented to an experimental college group. Results showed significant changes in responses to cognitive and attitudinal statements and nonsignificant but positive changes in smoker's motivation and behavior.…

Discusses findings from a series of national surveys by the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research. Findings indicated that cigarette use among American young people is declining sharply due, at least in part, to school anti-smoking campaigns and peer pressure to stop smoking. (DB)

The majority of the behavioral group therapy studies feature direct transfer of individually oriented procedures to a group of clients with similar problems. Methodological deficiencies include possible experimenter bias, unequal durations of experimenter attention, lack of adequate measurement tools, and too few follow-up evaluations. (Author)

In an attempt to develop appropriate health habits in early childhood, a program includes three comparative approaches. The first approach involves the use of a mobile unit. The traditional approach relies on a standard package designed to be used by the classroom teacher, and the third approach involves a combination of the original two. (JN)

A pre-post-test and a Solomon Three Group Design were used to assess the cigarette smoking attitudes of lower socioeconomic sixth grade students after exposure to a special health program. Students in this program developed more positive attitudes toward not smoking. Authors recommend further studies and implementation of special health programs.…

Uses a model of social identities to explore the incidence of cigarette smoking among adolescent girls. Found a sharp increase in girls' smoking at about 14 years of age related both to age and to puberty. The model identified "never smoked" and "regular smoker" groups but not occasional smokers. (RJM)