Adolescent Workers More Likely to Start Smoking
Adolescents are more likely to start smoking if they're employed 10 or more hours per week, according to a recent study. Published in the latest American Journal of Public Health, the research, conducted by scientists at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, highlights the strategic importance of smoking cessation and prevention programs in the workplace.
Based on data compiled by the Prevention Intervention Research Center (PIRC), the research included a sample of adolescents between 14 and 18 years of age. Fifty-five percent of the study participants were male, and 85% were African American. Researchers say the findings seem to square with previously published adolescent development theory which indicates that employed adolescents engage in some aspects of adulthood ahead of their non-employed counterparts, including the adoption of social roles and behaviors more typical of adults.
The researchers suggest that by ensuring that adolescents work in smoke-free environments, advances may be made in reducing the number of adolescents who start smoking.
Previously on the DC Metro Area Medical Malpractice Law Blog, we have posted articles related to:
Children More Susceptible to Nicotine Addiction Than Previously Understood
Young Female Smokers Face Higher Breast Cancer Risk
Consumer Group Warns Against Laser Therapy for Smoking Cessation
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