Describes the organizing concepts and strategies for the development and evaluation of self-help behavioral treatment manuals. Reviews programs that have been published or empirically tested for the treatment of phobias, smoking, obesity, sexual dysfunction, assertiveness, child behavior problems, study skills, and physical fitness, as well as…

Investigated efficacy of combining rapid smoking aversion and training in self-control skills for maintaining nonsmoking. Results at the 13-week follow-up showed that the performance of the combined rapid smoking plus self-control program was not superior to rapid smoking plus disucssion. (Author)

Conducted communication skills workshops to prevent cigarette smoking among adolescents by teaching adults how to help young people make responsible decisions and resist peer influences. One year later, 66% reported use of skills five or more times in the previous month, and significantly fewer adolescents in the high workshop intensity area…

Determined if nonsmokers understand the reasons smokers of their own sex and of the opposite sex give for smoking cigarettes. Results indicated that male nonsmokers were accurate in their perceptions of each sex. Nonsmoking women inaccurately perceived all six reasons cited by women who smoke and two factors cited by men. (Author/ABB)

Data were collected from high school students to observe peers' perceptions of two fictional adolescent females--one a smoker, the other a nonsmoker. Findings suggest that peers perceived the personality traits of the smoker more negatively than the nonsmoking counterpart. Recommendations are made for health educators. (Author/DF)

A study examined an assumption commonly held by many smoking prevention programs that social skills can affect the onset of tobacco smoking. Data from 129 sixth graders were used to predict smoking behavior 15 months later. Five skill variables emerged as the best predictors of future smoking. (Author/CB)

Compared correlates of smoking in a cohort of 4,641 older adolescents with correlates of smoking in the same group when they were in grades 4 to 6. In contrast to the earlier follow-ups, attitude toward smoking has become a more important determinant than it was before, particularly among females. (Author/BL)

The "stepping-stone" theory of progression into drug use is examined, based on the alcohol and other drug use of over 27,000 seventh- through eighth-grade students in New York State. The data show that students do not use illicit drugs unless they also use alcohol. (Author/LMO)

This article discusses statistical trends and the dramatic social changes taking place in the lives of American youth and their families. (MT)

Smoking cessation behaviors of college students using a university health service were examined. Forty successful and 32 unsuccessful quitters were interviewed through an open-ended questionnaire. Differences in success seemed related to techniques used to remain abstinent from cigarette smoking, expectations of ease or difficulty in quitting, and…

The influence of the physical and economic presence of tobacco crops on smoking behavior and related attitudes of students in tobacco-raising regions was measured by a Tobacco Crop Intensity variable. Implications for government agricultural and educational policy are discussed. (Author/DF)

Studies indicate that adolescents smoke to obtain a desirable image, rather than from direct pressure from peers. Suggestions for using peer influence to make favorable changes in health behaviors are offered. (DF)

Surveyed 138 parents and compared their attitudes toward children's use of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco with previous findings on attitudes of students. Results suggested each generation demands a stricter standard of behavior from the other generation than from their own. (JAC)

Surveyed college student (N=34) and general public (N=48) smokers regarding frequency, onset age, and daily situations associated with their habit. Results indicated no differences in either sample for responses according to sex, and correlations between smoking rate and onset age or years of smoking were not significant. (LLL)