The relationship between peer relations, self-rated health and smoking behaviour in secondary vocational schools.
Hanna Aho, Anna-Maija Koivisto, Eija Paavilainen and 1 others
PMID 31367397WHAT IT FOUND
Having a close friend was associated with higher odds of smoking daily or occasionally in both girls and boys.
Students who rated their health as moderate or poor were more likely to smoke. Difficulties getting along with schoolmates were not associated with smoking.
Key findings
01Having at least one close friend was associated with higher odds of daily smoking in girls and boys, and occasional smoking in girls.
02Students who rated their health as moderate or poor smoked significantly more often than those who rated their health as good.
03Difficulties in getting along with schoolmates were not associated with smoking behaviour in either gender.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The cross-sectional design prevents determining causality; it is unclear whether smoking leads to certain peer relations or vice versa. Data were self-reported, which may lead to under- or over-reporting of smoking and bullying. The study did not measure the smoking status of the participants' friends, so the mechanism of peer influence is inferred rather than directly observed. 12.5% of respondents did not answer the bullying question, which may bias those results.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that social isolation is the primary risk factor for smoking in this group. The study found that having close friends was associated with higher smoking rates, suggesting that peer influence and social bonding, rather than lack of friends, drive smoking behavior in vocational students.