Parental smoking, changes in smoker image, and susceptibility to smoking in nonsmoking 10-to 12-year-olds

The current study was designed to investigate whether parental cigarette smoking is associated with increased positivity in the smoker image during early adolescence. Participants (n = 432) were surveyed about parental smoking, smoker image, and susceptibility to smoking for three consecutive years beginning at age 10. Parental smoking was related to developmental increases in a positive smoker image. In addition, the slope of smoker image from age 10 to 12 was positively related to smoking susceptibility at age 12. Thus, before children are exposed to smoking peers, parental smoking is a risk factor for developing a positive smoker image and smoking onset.