A path model of the causes of adolescent cigarette smoking is assessed. This model is derived from a general behavior theory which proposes that the social experiences in one's environment influence behavior through the mediation of personality. Four ...
A path model of the causes of adolescent cigarette smoking is assessed. This model is derived from a general behavior theory which proposes that the social experiences in one's environment influence behavior through the mediation of personality. Four evaluation social experience variables, i. e., parents' education, negative parent-child relationship, school grades and positive teacher-student relationship, and self-esteem were analyzed in a survey of 568 high school boys to predict adolescent cigarette smoking behavior. It was found that all the four evaluative social experience variables affect adolescent self-esteem, and self-esteem in turn influences cigarette smoking behavior. Especially positive relationships with significant others influence adolescent smoking behavior through their intervening effects on self-esteem. Among the independent variables, school grades were found to have the greatest impact on cigarette smoking.