Anna V. Song ^1*, Holly E. R. Morrell ¹, Jodi L. Cornell ¹, Malena E. Ramos ¹, Michael Biehl ², Rhonda Y. Kropp ¹, Bonnie L. Halpern-Felsher ¹

¹ University of California, San Francisco
² University of California, Davis

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: asong5{at}ucmerced.edu.

	Abstract

Objectives. We used prospective, longitudinal data to directly test whether smoking-related perceptions predict smoking initiation among adolescents.

Methods. We administered surveys assessing perceptions of smoking-related risks and benefits to 395 high school students, beginning at the start of their ninth grade year. We conducted follow-up assessments every 6 months until the end of 10th grade, obtaining 4 waves of data.

Results. Adolescents who held the lowest perceptions of long-term smoking-related risks were 3.64 times more likely to start smoking than were adolescents who held the highest perceptions of risk. Adolescents who held the lowest perceptions of short-term smoking-related risks were 2.68 times more likely to initiate smoking. Adolescents who held the highest perceptions of smoking-related benefits were 3.31 times more likely to initiate smoking.

Conclusions. Smoking initiation is directly related to smoking-related perceptions of risks and benefits. Efforts to reduce adolescent smoking should continue to communicate the health risks of smoking and counteract perceptions of benefits associated with smoking.

Key Words: Adolescent Health, Child and Adolescent Health, Health Promotion, Prevention, Tobacco