Teenage smoking, attempts to quit, and school performance.

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between school performance, smoking, and quitting attempts among teenagers. A logistic regression model was used to predict the probability of being a current smoker or a former smoker. Data were derived from the 1990 California Youth Tobacco Survey. Students' school performance was a key factor in predicting smoking and quitting attempts when other sociodemographic and family income factors were controlled. Developing academic or remedial classes designed to improve students' school performance may lead to a reduction in smoking rates among teenagers while simultaneously providing a human capital investment in their futures.