Personal Strengths and Assets Among Adolescents: A Comparison of Smokers and Nonsmokers

Abstract

There is limited research on the relationship between adolescent smoking and related social and psychological factors, but it is known that adolescent tobacco users are at higher risk for behavioral disorders and substance abuse. Of great interest to those who work in youth tobacco prevention is expanding knowledge about those factors that lead to tobacco use as well as about those that may buffer against its use. This study examined protective factors and personal strengths in 386 adolescents as part of a high school Tobacco Use Prevention Education (TUPE) program funded by the California Department of Education. Multivariate analysis indicated a significant relationship between gender, smoking status, and personal strengths with smokers having lower levels of personal strengths. It is suggested that cessation programs consider smoking within the context of youths' personal assets and their social support networks. School support services professionals can contribute to youth tobacco prevention efforts by attending to smoking behavior and its correlates when they are involved in assessments, consultation, or direct counseling with students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]