Survey of smoking attitudes in grade school children in Greece: A preliminary study

Aims: Tobacco use among children and adolescents is a major public health concern. Past literature has indicated that smoking attitudes are reliable predictors of teen smoking. The present study explored the smoking attitudes of 4th - 6th grade Greek pupils. Methods: Data were obtained from 379 Greek elementary school students who completed a smoking attitudes survey, based on the Bogalusa Heart Study. Findings and Conclusions: Analysis of variance indicated that 4th graders expressed significantly more positive attitudes towards tobacco use in three statements related to the psychological consequences of cigarette use, and to peer pressures to smoke. No gender differences were evident. Overall, pupils across grades expressed relatively negative attitudes towards smoking. Differences between school grades in certain statements denoting the psychological properties of tobacco use, and in peer pressures were attributed to 4th graders' lack of knowledge in the particular areas. Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel.