The overestimation on tobacco consumption of peers by teenagers increase when tobacco consumption decrease

Abstract

For teenager's attitudes of peers is an important determinant of behavior, including tobacco consumption. Most of teenagers try to have the same behavior than peers, so an overestimation of consumption of tobacco may drive an increase of tobacco consumption

Methods: From 2011 to 2014 the cross sectional survey conduct on 2% of Paris City schoolchildren include a question on tobacco consumption that provide a figure of reality of rate of smokers in each class section and a question on the opinion on the rate of smokers in their class section.

Results: 12835 schoolchildren were questioned on the 4 years of survey. The rate of daily smoker decrease from 20.2% to 10.9% for 12-15 years old schoolchildren and from 42.9 to 33.5% in 16-19 years old schoolchildren.

There in an overestimation of 50% of tobacco consumption by the non-smokers, but the overestimation is near 3 times higher (130%) among smokers.

The other estimation increase gradually then the tobacco consumption decrease from 2011 to 2014 with the advent of e-cigarette (from 1.08 to 11.35, 1.33 and 1.49 in 12-15 years old schoolchildren and from 1.17 to 1.38, 1.43 and 1.53 in the 16-19 years old schoolchildren).

Conclusion: It is important to report to schoolchildren the reality of the decrease of the rate of tobacco consumption. Some people involved in the prevention sent to media alarming false messages concerning the evolution of tobacco consumption in teenagers. These alarming message on rate of consumers conducts teenagers to considerate smoking as a social norm of their class section and smoking more as a desire to look smoker as the peers.