Abstract

The present study examined psychosocial correlates of smoking among junior high school students. Students' smoking behaviors were classified into three categories of 'never use', 'first trial', and 'experimental use'. Logistic regression was used to identify factors independently associated with different smoking stages. It was found that an important correlate of two smoking stages included high peer pressure to misbehave among both boys and girls. In addition, among boys, sensation seeking motivation, stress from friends, late physical maturation were independently associated with first trial stage, whereas early physical maturation with experimental use. Experimental use of smoking among girls was associated with low school grades, high school stress and low stress from friends. It is suggested that psychosocial correlates of smoking are different by gender of adolescents.