Research has shown that many behaviors previously thought to be purely psychological in origin do, in fact, have a physiological basis. To examine the relationship of smoking behavior to locus of control, and to attitudes toward, knowledge about, and behavior with respect to nutrition, 116 Canadian undergraduate students completed the Nutrition…

The longitudinal Guttman simplex (LGS), a method of modeling stage sequences or levels over time, allows for individual differences in sequence progression or development. The LGS is particularly appropriate in modeling tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use stages with adolescent subjects where relationships among drugs and degree of involvement may…

In order to prevent cigarette smoking in young adolescents, the factors which cause it need to be better understood. A study was conducted to investigate the contribution of three psychosocial factors, suggested by previous theory and research, on smoking in a longitudinal sample of seventh graders (N=3,940) who were studied again in the eighth…

The relationship between dropping out of high school and substance use was explored using the 1984 National Longitudinal Survey of Young Adults. Relevant research literature is reviewed. Cross-sectional data indicated that high school dropouts were more involved with cigarettes and illicit drugs than were graduates and that those who obtained a…

Past research has shown that teenagers with less educated parents and teenagers with lower academic aspirations are more likely than their peers to smoke. This study was conducted to provide additional descriptive data concerning the relationships of smoking to parents' education and students' educational aspirations and to provide preliminary…

Drug abuse in schools, and to a lesser extent, alcohol and tobacco abuse, are the topics of this report. Discussions are provided in these areas: (1) prevalence of drug abuse; (2) student attitudes and beliefs; (3) drug laws and school rules; (4) student searches and drug testing; (5) drug epidemic reaching the very young; (6) tobacco abuse; (7)…

This booklet presents 28 model programs for dealing with substance abuse which are currently used in New Jersey public schools. These programs are arranged in three categories based on the services which they provide: prevention (an attempt to avoid substance abuse problems before they appear); intervention (helping abusers who risk developing…

A study investigated the differential relationship between children's involvement in an experiential health curriculum and past-reported health practices and changes in family health practices. The research is based on the assumption that established patterns of health practices in families are not immutable patterns, but are susceptible to change…

The youth smoking problem is discussed and assistance is provided for teachers in developing smoking prevention and cessation programs. Four chapters serve as guides to understanding and working with the youth smoking problem. "Teenage Smoking in America" reviews trends in teenage smoking behavior and the factors that influence the initiation of…

National surveys of teenagers have provided information for making decisions about smoking prevention programs. Repeated surveys are necessary because smoking patterns change over time. The prevalence of adolescent smoking and the variables related to it were investigated as well as the potential utility of those variables in predicting habitual…

GRADES OR AGES: Grades 10-12. SUBJECT MATTER: Health Education--includes chapters on a) nutrition; b) disease prevention and control; c) tobacco; d) alcohol; e) drugs; f) personality development; g) family life and sexuality; h) environmental, public, and world health; i) consumer health; and j) safety, first aid, and survival education.…

Grades or Ages: Grades 7-9. Subject Matter: Health Education (includes chapters covering the following: (a) nutrition, (b) sensory perception, (c) dental health, (d) disease prevention and control, (e) smoking and health, (f) alcohol education, (g) use and misuse of chemical substances, (h) identity and human sexuality, (i) environmental health,…

Grades or Ages: Grades 4-6. Subject Matter: Health Education (includes chapters covering the following: (a) health status; (b) nutrition; (c) sensory Perception; (d) dental health; (e) disease prevention and control; (f) smoking and health; (g) alcohol education; (h) drug education; (i) personality development; (j) human sexuality; (k) family life…

For this 1966 thesis from Mankato State College, a study was made to determine understanding of, and attitudes toward, 4 controversial topics in the area of health education and the feasibility of including these topics in the local school's health education curriculum. Students, parents, and teachers (50 subjects in each group) in the North…

The extent to which smokers as compared to non-smokers recognize their failure to achieve was studied. The subjects were 80 ninth grade pupils, half of whom smoked. A nine point self-anchoring Expectation scale was developed to determine how closely the subjects came to meeting the perceived expectations of their parents, their school, their…