AN EXPLORATION OF FACTORS RELATED WITH SMOKING STYLES AND NICOTINE DEPENDENCE AMONG ADOLESENCTS

Objective: This study aims to investigate the factors related with smoking styles and proneness of tobacco dependence among adolescents who are smoking cigarettes. In order to achieve the goal, researchers analyzed the relations of gender, age, low academic achievement, impulsiveness, peer deviant conformity, self-esteem, and conflicts with parents to smoking styles and nicotine dependence among high school students who were smoking cigarettes. Methods: Participants were 201 high school students (118 males and 88 females), whose ages ranged from 14 to 18. And, for statistical analyses, Pearson correlational analysis and stepwise regression analysis were used. Results: Correlational analysis results indicated that the age was positively correlated with all smoking styles except smoking for the stress release, while low academic achievement was positively correlated with smoking for sensation seeking and impulsive smoking. And self-esteem was positively correlated with all smoking styles except impulsive smoking and habitual smoking. Peer deviant conformity was closely correlated with smoking styles. Impulsiveness and conflicts with parents, as well as peer deviant conformity, were positively correlated with all smoking styles. Gender, impulsiveness, peer deviant conformity, self-esteem, and conflicts with parents, except low academic achievement, were positively correlated with nicotine dependence. Stepwise regression analysis for nicotine dependence revealed that peer deviant conformity, gender, and age were significant predictors, however, low academic achievement, impulsiveness, self-esteem, and conflicts with parent were eliminated form this model. Peer deviant conformity was a determinant factor for nicotine dependence of adolescents; its accountability was around 21.9%.