Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study was to assess gender differences regarding perceptions of smoking between Romanian non-smoking boys and girls, to facilitate the development of effective smoking prevention programmes.
METHODS
Cross-sectional data were obtained in 2006 by means of written questionnaires among 981 non-smoking school students aged 13-14 years from Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
RESULTS
The results reveal that girls were more convinced than boys that smoking would result in several positive outcomes such as helping them getting more attention and becoming easier part of the crowd. Moreover, girls declared lower self-efficacy in refraining from smoking when friends smoke or offer them a cigarette. Parental norms regarding smoking seem to be less restrictive for boys than for girls.
CONCLUSIONS
The gender differences found in our study do not warrant specific smoking prevention programmes for boys and girls, but it is advisable to include gender-specific issues in prevention activities targeting Romanian adolescents aged 13-14 years.

Links

Aggregator Full Text

Authors

Lotrean LM, De Vries H

Institution

Department of Hygiene, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Ilotrean@umfcluj.ro

Source

Central European journal of public health 20:1 2012 Mar pg 33-7

MeSH

Adolescent
Adolescent Behavior
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans
Male
Perception
Romania
Self Concept
Sex Factors
Smoking
Social Environment

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22571014