Factors that influence smoking in adolescent girls

A secondary analysis of data from the public-use version of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) was used for this research study. Variables and constructs that significantly influence smoking in adolescent girls are identified. These variables and constructs include residential mother-daughter connectedness, self-concept, residential mother's smoking behavior, and friends' smoking behavior. All variables and constructs identified are significantly associated with smoking in white adolescent girls. Residential mother-daughter connectedness and friends' smoking behavior are significantly associated with smoking in black adolescent girls. Friends' smoking behavior is the only variable in this study found to be significantly associated with smoking in Hispanic adolescent girls. Results of this secondary analysis suggest that the influential and protective factors related to smoking vary with race/ethnicity.