Among preadolescents, use of "gateway" substances (tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana) is rare. By high school, most students have normally established habits of use or nonuse. Because the occurrence of first and experimental use is most frequent during the years around puberty, programs targeting sixth and seventh grades seem most promising.…

The theoretic framework for the examination of practice consists of four dimensions: customary, instrumental, interactive, and reflective. This article illustrates ways in which a professional can use the framework. The case of smoking is presented as an example of an issue which either has or could be approached from each of the dimensions of…

Describes development of the Fetal Health Locus of Control scale, the scale's utility in predicting maternal health-related behavior during pregnancy, normative data, and information on factor structure and internal consistency. Reports that cigarette and caffeine consumption during pregnancy, and women's intentions to participate in prepared…

Revealed sixth grade is the optimal time to provide education for smoking prevention. Sixth graders are characterized by a relative lack of knowledge of the effects of smoking, unfamiliarity with parents' attitudes, and evidence that many students in this grade intend to smoke within the next five years. (Author/BL)

Surveyed public school teachers from the same school system about student smoking and smoking education in 1973 and 1982. Results showed little change in teachers' perception of smoking education over 9 years, and of teachers who smoke, more in 1973 than in 1982 were willing to help students stop smoking. (BH)

The purpose of this article is to facilitate a clearer understanding of both the concept of self-efficacy and its relevance for health education research and practice. Self-efficacy is first defined and distinguished from other related concepts. Next, studies of the self-efficacy concept as it relates to health practices are examined. (Author/CT)

A method is presented that allows multivariate comparability while making only minimal restrictions on randomization. This procedure is demonstrated in the context of assigning 63 aggregated units (schools) to 28 experimental and control conditions. Good comparability of groups for all primary main effects and interactions was verified for 15…

Studied male smokers (N=182) at high risk of coronary heart disease to determine variables that discriminated between successful and nonsuccessful quitters. Analysis revealed that baseline level of smoking, life events, personal security, and selected group process variables were predictive of success or failure in the intervention program.…

Kentucky public school students were surveyed to observe family influence on smoking behavior. Those children whose families were involved in tobacco production held more favorable attitudes towards smoking than their nontobacco family peers. Development of effective smoking education programs in major tobacco states is suggested. (Author/ DF)

This booklet discusses concerns about environmental health threats to children, describes dangers, and lists strategies for protection. Topics include: (1) "Household Products"; (2) "Secondhand Tobacco Smoke"; (3) "Pesticides"; (4) "Overexposure to Ultraviolet Light"; (5) "Lead"; (6)…

A survey of Queensland's population in 1993 determined that 24% of the adults were smokers. National data compiled in 1992 indicated that 72% of the drug-related deaths were related to tobacco use. In light of the need for effective smoking cessation approaches, a literature review was undertaken to determine the efficacy of hypnotic and…

Given that young people are extremely concerned with how they appear socially, beguiling and glamorous portrayals of smokers in recent films may be contributing to the continual rise in college student smoking. The pervasive positive depiction of smokers as attractive and appealing easily preys on young people who lack confidence and self esteem.…

This paper explores six phases of a research project designed specifically to engage high school students as co-researchers in a multisite qualitative study exploring perceptions of tobacco use among high school students in four schools. It describes how university researchers collaborated with the high school students and summarizes seven major…

Between the mid 1970s and 1992, daily cigarette use by high school seniors dropped by 60%. Since then, two factors have become apparent that have added to an increase in cigarette use by teenagers. First, instead of supporting tax increases and smoking bans, health lobbyists and Clinton administration officials aimed criticism at youth and their…

This paper examines what pedagogical issues mean to practicing teachers, discussing the ethics of purpose, rules and principles, and probability, and noting teachers' philosophical perspectives and practical interpretations. Interviews were conducted with 20 Finnish secondary school teachers working in urban schools during an in-service training…