Influence of competitive and recreational sport practice on smoking habits of young people

Smoking habits of 324 young people, 14-24 years old, engaged in sport as competitive athletes (n=192) or amateur athletes (n=132) were investigated. The prevalence of smokers was significantly lower in competitive than in recreational sport (current + occasional smokers: 25.3 vs 40.2%) and the number of cigarettes was also lower in competitive athletes (current smokers: 8.8 vs 9.8 cigarettes per day). Furthermore the current smokers smoked fewer cigarettes during training days (4.4 vs 4.8) and 70% of occasional smokers did not smoke during the same days. This behaviour was common to males and females. Age, smoking habits of major brothers and best friends were positively associated with smoking status, while no association was found with smoking habits of the parents. Again, no difference was found between the 2 groups with respect to the reasons given to explain the smoking habit and the knowledge of smoking-related health hazards. This knowledge resulted of good level in both the groups. This survey suggests that sporting activity prevent young people from smoking only if performed to competitive level, probably because these athletes have a higher consciousness of the incompatibility between smoking status and physical efficiency.