INFLUENCES OF PARENTS AND PEERS ON ADOLESCENT SMOKING INITIATION: FINDINGS FROM A LONGITUDINAL STUDY IN KOTA TINGGI DISTRICT, JOHOR, MALAYSIA

• Published in: Malaysian journal of public health medicine Vol. 21; no. 2; pp. 14 - 21
• Main Authors: Hock, Lim Kuang, Li, Lim Hui, Mohd Ghazali, Sumarni, Ling, Cheong Yoon, Cheong, Kee Chee, Heng Pei Pei, Teh Chien Huey, Tan Cia Vei, Mohd Hazilas Mat Hashim, Cheah Yong Kang, Lim Jia Hui
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 28.08.2021
• ISSN: 1675-0306; 2590-3829
• DOI: 10.37268/mjphm/vol.21/no.2/art.620

Studies have shown that parents and peers are among the dominant factors that contribute to smoking initiation among non-smoking adolescents. The paucity of this information in Malaysia warrants a longitudinal study to determine the actual factors associated smoking initiation. The study aims to address the gaps in our knowledge on the factors that associated with smoking initiation among non-smoking school-going adolescents. We carried out a longitudinal study among non-smoking secondary school-going adolescents in Kota Tinggi district, Johor. A representative sample of 1682 was selected via multi-stage sampling and respondents were followed-up for a period of one year. A pre-validated questionnaire was used to collect data from the selected respondents and multivariable logistic regression was employed to determine the factors associated with smoking initiation among non-smoking school-going adolescents. Approximately 1 in 10 non-smoking school-going adolescents-initiated smoking at the end of follow-up. Having peers and a father who smokes were significantly associated with smoking in univariate analysis, similarly, a relationship was also observed in multivariable analysis between parents who smoked with smoking initiation after the effect of other independent variables were controlled (Adjusted relative risk: 1.81, 95% CI 1.06-2.95). The study revealed that parental influence was more dominant than peer influence with regard to smoking initiation. Therefore, intervention programmes should involve parents/guardians to enhance their chances of success and reduce the incidence of smoking among non-smoking school-going adolescents.