Factors Affecting Smoking And Predictors Of Academic Achievement Among Primary School Children In Jordan

Abstract

The aim of this research is to assess the relationship among the smoking status of primary school children with demographics and the smoking characteristics of their parents. In addition, to identify any factor(s) considered strong predictor(s) of academic achievement. A descriptive cross-sectional design was used in this study. A cluster random sample of 453 primary school children was obtained from both genders. Smoking was measured by the self-reported smoking behavior questionnaire and the educational achievement was measured by “Jordan Certificate of Primary Education.” The results indicate that there is a significant correlation between smoking status rpb ((451) = -.44, p < .001), age of smoking initiation r ((451) = -.30, p < .001), daily cigarettes r ((451) = -.12, p < .01), and smoked 100 cigarettes in lifetime rpb ((451) = -.28, p < .01) with academic achievement. In multiple hierarchical regression analysis, Model 1 explained 12% of variance with academic achievement. By adding the smoking characteristics Model 2 explained 28% of the variance with academic achievement. The conclusion is that there is a correlation between smoking and academic achievement.