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Description:
Despite
interventions and actions, the number of smoking adolescents, especially
girls , has continued to rise in many European countries during
the last decade. The major aim of the project was to examine gender
differences in smoking in young people using 3 research methods:
literature research, quantitative research and qualitative research.
The project was carried out in 5 EU countries: Austria, Belgium-Flanders,
Portugal, Scotland-UK and Sweden. For the quantitative study, the
HBSC-data of the 1997-1998 survey was analysed.
Some
key findings:
- Smoking
cessation and willingness to quit is an important issue in adolescents
- Gender
differences occur due to the different social worlds in which
boys and girls live, and by the different roles of boys and girls
in society. Smoking plays an important role in the lives of both
boys and girls but the function and meaning of smoking differ
for both sexes.
- Quantitative
research: Pocket money, truancy, drunkenness and the number of
evenings spent with friends is related to smoking in both sexes.
Being tired is related to smoking in boys but not in girls. Academic
achievement and feeling unhealthy is related to smoking in girls
but not in boys.
- Qualitative
research: gender differences in smoking is found in:
1. The instrumental use of smoking in coping with negative emotions.
Emotions that trigger smoking are different for boys and girls.
2. The sharing of a cigarette as an instrument for social contact
is typical for girls.
3. Stigmatisation of smoking, which is perceived as a disadvantage
for girls.
4. The impact of smoking on physical condition, fitness and practising
sports,
which is perceived as a disadvantage for boys.
5. Smoking policies at home and at school are more likely to be
accepted by girls than by boys.
6. The relation between smoking and other substance use differ
in boys and girls and between countries.
Publications
Report:
Marleen L, Hublet A, Verduyckt P, Maes L. Van den Broucke S. (2002)
Gender differences in smoking in young people. Flemish Institute
for Health Promotion, Brussels, Belgium.
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