Positive schools 'reduce teenage smoking'
Positive school environments could reduce teenage smoking rates
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Friday, 20, Jun 2008 12:19
Pupils that attend schools with a positive environment are less likely to smoke, according to research published today.
Researchers behind the study say it suggests that teachers who succeed in creating a positive environment in school may be responsible for their pupils staying smoke-free.
Marion Henderson of the Medical Research Council Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, Glasgow, led the study of 5,092 pupils from 24 Scottish schools.
On average 25 per cent of males and 39 per cent of females aged 15 to 16 reported they either regularly or occasionally smoked.
Pupils who experience positive and inclusive environments in schools were less likely to take up smoking.
"The social environment of schools, in particular the quality of teacher-pupil relationships, pupils' attitude to school and the school's focus on caring and inclusiveness, all influence both boys' and girls' smoking habits," said Dr Henderson.
"Our results suggest that investing in the social environment of schools and endeavouring to make school a positive experience even for less academically able pupils may have the potential to reduce smoking rates, particularly for boys."
The study is published in the journal BMC Public Health.