Young children's understandings of cigarette smoking

摘要: Aims We explore young ciiildren's attitudes toward, beilefs about, and iifestyle associations witii cigarette smoking using direct indirect measures. Design, setting participants Second (r7 = 100) flftii grade (n=141) eiementary school students (i.e. 7-8 10-11-year-oids) were excused Irom ciass individuaiiy interviewed. Methods Participants seiected pictures in response to the questions: who would iiice smoke cigarettes most liice least.' Their picture choices probed open-ended prompts designed elicit beiiefs life-styie underlying their choices. Survey-based measures of beliefs also coiiected. Findings graders reported iife-style with smoicing that consistent those fifth graders. Whiie are generally negative, children appear perceive others feei makes them look cool feel helps lit in. i3y grade, many believe can help reduce stress alleviate negative mood states. The presence a smoker household does not affect these associations, suggesting they may be being shaped by external socialization agents. Conclusion Young developing understandings go beyond knowing products thai; smoked. As some perceptions likely predispose for future experimentation, need included prevention research so age-appropriate interventions developed.