Smoking among young children in Hong Kong: influence of parental smoking

loke a.y. & wong y.p.i. (2010)  Smoking among young children in Hong Kong: influence of parental smoking. Journal of Advanced Nursing   66 (12), 2659–2670. Abstract Aims.  This paper is a report of a study comparing children with smoking parents and those with non‐smoking parents, in terms of knowledge and attitude towards smoking and the influence of parents and peers on smoking initiation. Background.  Adolescence is a developmental stage when smoking habits are likely to start. Adolescents are most influenced by the smoking habits of their parents and friends. Method.  A cross‐section study was conducted with students aged 13–15 years in two schools in 2008, using a questionnaire that collected information on the smoking habits of their parents and peers, knowledge and attitude towards smoking, initiation and inclination towards smoking. Chi‐square tests and binary logistic regression were used to analyse the data. Results.  A total of 257 of 575 (44·7%) students had smoking parent(s), and 25·4% reported having peers who smoked. Children with non‐smoking parents were more likely than those with smoking parents to consider ‘smoking as disgusting’ (67·3% vs. 45·9%), and to know that ‘smoking is addictive’ (80·5% vs. 70·4%) and ‘harmful to health’ (81·8% vs. 67·7%). More of those with smoking parents had tried smoking than those with non‐smoking parents (13·2% vs. 3·8%). Conclusion.  Preventive programmes should involve smoking parents to increase their awareness of the impact their smoking has on their children. Interventions should include problem‐solving skills for children to deal with daily stresses and thus eradicate the potential risk of smoking initiation.