Adolescents' attitudes towards tobacco use and oral health: Four "portraits"

Abstract

Attitudes are important factors that can identify the uptake of smoking in adolescence. This study analyses interviews with 18 young at-risk patients, in an attempt to understand adolescents' attitudes about tobacco use and oral health. The findings are presented with the aid of four "portraits": The tobacco user, The tobacco tester, The tobacco ambivalent and The tobacco rejecter. These categories were constructed to show typical aspects and differences between the participating youth. Attitudes to tobacco use, although generally negative, varied over the four portraits. Arguments for not using tobacco were based on knowledge about harmful physiological influence and on emotional factors. The outlook of one's family and friends on tobacco was described as an important influence on one's own standpoint. All of the adolescents have taken part in school teaching about tobacco and oral health, which was described as boring. They want teaching to be based on dialogue. The portraits stress different circumstances in life as important for their attitudes towards tobacco use. Common to them is the need to receive relevant information, and to work actively in an educational situation. To arrange such teaching situations requires an understanding of the variations in adolescents' experience and attitudes.