Cigarette smoking behavioral distinctions between experimental nonadopters and adopters in children and adolescents--a consideration of transitional smoking experience: the Bogalusa Heart Study.

A cigarette-smoking questionnaire to examine behavior, attitudes, and beliefs related to cigarette use was administered to children, ages 8-17, in a biracial community. Children who experimented with cigarettes but did not adopt the habit (experimental nonadopters) and children who continued to smoke (adopters) were identified and characterized. Follow-up behavior was examined 2 years later. Adopters were more likely to have smokers as friends and family members, more likely to have purchased their first cigarettes, more likely to believe smoking to be pleasurable for themselves and others, and less likely to consider smoking harmful. Adopters who maintained smoking behavior 2 years later had, during the initial survey, reported having more friends who also smoked and were more likely to believe smoking to be enjoyable. Experimental nonadopters were more likely to try the first cigarette alone, reported having fewer friends and family members who smoked, and believed greater health risks to be associated with cigarette use. Experimental nonadopters who maintained nonsmoking behavior 2 years later, especially in the older cohort, exhibited higher agreement with the negative consequences of cigarette smoking (health beliefs) and theories concerning smoking behavior of others.