Investigations on the extension of smoking among the working youth of the German Democratic Republic and on the smoking habits of Leipzig Youth

: In an extensive study performed in 1975 the extent of smoking among 4000 working adolescents of GDR was analysed. The results are approximately representative for the whole working youth of GDR in the age period of 17 to 25 years. The portion of smokers is represented approximately in dependence on socio-demographic factors and on social positions. The main results are as follows. 45% of the working youth in GDR are smokers; 55% being among male adolescents and 36% among female ones. The increasing extension of smoking habits must be first of all attributed to the growing proportion of female smokers. From all seizable influencing factors the levels of education and qualification have the most significant effect to the proportion of smokers to nonsmokers, the percentage of smokers significantly decreasing with increasing level of education and qualification. More detailed data on the smoking habits of adolescents are based on a longitudinal study of the Zentralinstitut fur Jugendforschung begun in 1968 and continued every year in the same population investigating the development of the personality of adolescents and its determination in 600 Leipzig pupils of the 6th form. Onset of smoking, occasional and habitual smoking, average cigarette consumption per day and motivation for nonsmoking are analysed. Conclusions are drawn from these investigations for the prevention of smoking.