Roles of parental smoking and family structure for the explanation of socio-economic inequalities in adolescent smoking

Abstract

Background and aims

Among European countries, France is particularly concerned by adolescent tobacco smoking, especially in disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds (SES). We measured the respective contributions of parental smoking and family living arrangements to social disparities in smoking during adolescence.

A total of 13 314 adolescents answered a pen-and-paper questionnaire about their own tobacco consumption and the smoking of their parents.

Findings

Adolescents living within very privileged and privileged SES were significantly less likely to report daily tobacco smoking than those within modest and disadvantaged ones.

Parental smoking and family living arrangement independently explained the smoking inequalities among adolescents.

Apprentices and adolescents out of school had higher risks than those at school

The contribution of parental smoking to adolescent smoking was greater than that of SES , family living arrangement or schooling factors. 

Conclusion

In France, parental smoking appears to be the factor that most influences adolescent smoking, followed by family living arrangements; the role of family socioeconomic status is small in comparison.