Evaluated social-developmental model of early adolescent tobacco involvement among 204 seventh-grade boys. Even after controlling for effects of parental and sibling tobacco use, positive relationships were found between harsh/inconsistent parenting and adolescent tobacco use, and negative relationships between nurturant/involved parenting…

This literature review discusses gender differences in psychosocial determinants of adolescent smoking. Studies show that external pressures (e.g., peer and parental smoking) are important for boys and girls, although their influence may be moderated differently by age and type of smoking behavior assessed. Gender-specific components of…

Begins with a brief review of scientific research on adverse health consequences caused by smoking, then examines the school district role in balancing competing interests of smokers and nonsmokers. States that school districts have a financial and moral obligation to reduce potential health risks and legal liabilities (148 references) (MLF)

The linkage approach was applied in a school-based smoking prevention project in the Netherlands. The linkage approach enhances collaboration among university-based researchers, district health educators, and teachers. The article describes the collaborative processes. Process evaluation indicates the linkage approach is feasible in school-based…

In 1990, researchers collected data on risky sexual behavior and other risky behaviors to examine factors associated with secondary students' condom use and number of sexual partners. Risky sexual behavior correlated with other risky behaviors. There was a pattern of declining condom use with increasing number of partners. (SM)

Examined the relationship between smoking and participation in unhealthy behaviors among Mexican-American adolescents. Analysis of data from the 1993 Teenage Attitudes and Practices Survey indicated that Mexican-American adolescents who smoke may be at higher risk for engaging in behaviors that could compromise their health and safety and for not…

Health statistics show wide variations in risk and determinants of infant death across racial and ethnic subpopulations, a within-group advantage to being an immigrant, and the same direction of effects for mortality risk factors across groups. Efforts to lower infant mortality should benefit all groups. Contains 83 references. (TD)

Investigates the relationship between daily life events and total cholesterol levels among high school students (N=104) and examines contributions of health-related behaviors. Analyses showed that scores on a scale of daily life events explained a significant portion of variance in cholesterol levels. Females reported a greater degree of negative…

Reviews the detrimental effects of adolescent tobacco use and stresses the importance of prevention efforts targeting youth at school, discussing characteristics of effective school-based approaches and the unique aspects of peer teaching and peer leadership programs. Research suggests that peer-led tobacco prevention programs can foster desirable…

Discusses a school-based prevention program initiated to reduce alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) use among adolescents. Investigates changes in reported ATOD use from 1987 to 1991. Significant decreases were found for use of most drugs with the exception of alcohol. Involvement in problem behaviors was the most salient risk factor whereas…

Examined relationships between high school students' tobacco use and other substance use, intentional injury risk behaviors, and sexual risk behaviors. One-half of students used no tobacco, one-fourth used one tobacco product, and 19.5 percent used more than one tobacco product. Generally, students who used tobacco also engaged in other substance…

Examined social crowd construct among 489 white seventh-, ninth-, and eleventh-graders. Found that self- and peer-nominated crowds were reasonably congruent and related in the same way to delinquency, substance use, and grade point average. Adolescents were friendliest to their own crowd and had more than expected number of friends from their…

TAR WARS is an interactive, anti-tobacco program for fifth graders designed to promote positive health choices by increasing students' awareness of attitudes regarding tobacco use and the effects of tobacco on the body. The program encourages health care provider involvement in community health activities and mobilizes community support against…

A longitudinal study involving 400 children, one third of whom were identified as hyperactive in 1974, investigated tobacco smoking and substance dependencies. The results found almost twice as many participants with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder smoked cigarettes daily as controls and twice as many were cocaine dependent. (CR)

Short-term longitudinal study compared influence of 6th, 8th, and 10th graders' closest friends (CF) and friendship groups (FG) on cigarette and alcohol use. Results showed that CF influenced initiation of cigarette and alcohol use. Only FG use predicted transition into current cigarette use. Only CF use predicted transition into current alcohol…