Smoking Attitude and Behavior Among Taipei Junior and Senior Highschool Students

CM Lin

1985 Vol.1 NO.2

Correspondence Author：

Abstract：

In December 1984, a survey of smoking attitudes and behavior was conducted by guidance counselors at Ta Chi Junior Highschool in Taipei. The schools enrollment is 2,548 and all students (ages 12 to 15 years) are male. Five hundred twenty-two students were randomly selected to complete an anonymous questionnaire. Results mowed that 38.7% of students had tried smoking at least once (29.6%, 38.5% and 49.0% of students age 12-13, 14 and 15 rears respectively) Of these, 12.3% we current smokers (2.8%, 13.2% and 21.7% of students age 12-13, 14, and 15 years respectively). Of students who had tried smoking, the majority (64.9%) had their first smoking experience while in elementary school. “Curiosity” was the principle. motivation (76.5%). Students who are current smokers on the average, smoke 6.2 cigarettes per week; however, 17.2% of current smokers smoke over one pack of cigarettes per week. Almost half (45.0%) of students who currently smoke said they smoke mo often at home rather than at playgrounds or school, While the proportion of students among regular and advanced classes who had tried smoking was approximately equal, the proportion of current smokers in the advanced classes was only about one sixth that in the regular classes (4.9% com-pared to 31.6%