The effect of smoking on students
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The Effect of Smoking on Students
Introduction to Smoking and Student Health
Smoking is widely recognized as a harmful behavior with significant health risks for both active and passive smokers. Among students, smoking can lead to a range of negative outcomes, including health issues, reduced academic performance, and increased likelihood of engaging in other risky behaviors2 10. This article synthesizes research findings on the impact of smoking on students, focusing on health, academic performance, and the influence of peer pressure and school environment.
Health Risks Associated with Student Smoking
Smoking poses severe health risks to students, affecting nearly every organ in the body and leading to numerous diseases. Long-term health problems include an increased risk of stroke and brain damage3. Studies have shown that a significant proportion of students who smoke experience negative health impacts, with a majority reporting adverse effects2 10. Additionally, smoking among students is associated with other risky behaviors such as high-risk alcohol use, risky driving, relational abuse, and depression5.
Academic Performance and Smoking
Smoking has been found to negatively impact students' academic performance. Research conducted in rural China indicates that smoking one cigarette per day during adolescence can lower students' scores on mathematics tests by about 0.08 standard deviations4. This reduction in academic performance can be attributed to the biological effects of smoking, which may reduce learning productivity and lower motivation to attend school where smoking is prohibited4.
Peer Pressure and Smoking Prevalence
Peer pressure is a significant factor contributing to smoking among students. A systematic review and meta-analysis in Ethiopia revealed that students who experience peer pressure are more likely to smoke, with an odds ratio of 2.683. The prevalence of smoking is higher among university students compared to high school students, indicating that peer influence may intensify with age3. Furthermore, students who perceive higher smoking rates among their peers or school staff are more likely to start smoking themselves6 8.
School Environment and Smoking Behavior
The school environment plays a crucial role in influencing student smoking behavior. Interventions targeting the socio-environmental setting at vocational schools have shown positive effects on school connectedness and in preventing occasional smokers from becoming daily smokers1. However, the overall impact on daily smoking rates was not significant1. Additionally, schools with strict smoking bans and evidence-based prevention activities have lower smoking prevalence among students7. The behavior of role models, such as teachers and school staff, also significantly impacts students' smoking habits6.
Mental Health and Quality of Life
Smoking is associated with poorer health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among students, with higher levels of depressive symptoms mediating this relationship9. Students who smoke are more likely to experience depression, which in turn affects their mental and physical health scores9. This highlights the need for integrated interventions that address both smoking cessation and mental health support.
Conclusion
Smoking among students is a multifaceted issue influenced by health risks, academic performance, peer pressure, and the school environment. Effective interventions should target both individual behaviors and the broader school context to reduce smoking prevalence and mitigate its adverse effects. Schools should enforce strict smoking policies, provide evidence-based prevention programs, and support students' mental health to create a healthier and more conducive learning environment.
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Most relevant research papers on this topic
Effects of a settings-based intervention to promote student wellbeing and reduce smoking in vocational schools: A non-randomized controlled study.
A settings-based intervention in vocational schools can improve student wellbeing and prevent occasional smokers from becoming daily smokers, but has no effect on daily smoking.
RCT
Large Human TrialThe Impact Of Smoking On School Students
Smoking negatively impacts health in 69.6% of students, while 30.4% showed a positive health effect.
The impact of peer pressure on cigarette smoking among high school and university students in Ethiopia: A systemic review and meta-analysis
Peer pressure significantly influences cigarette smoking among high school and university students in Ethiopia, with more than one sixth smoking.
Meta-Analysis
Rigorous JournalDoes smoking affect schooling? Evidence from teenagers in rural China.
Youth smoking can lower students' mathematics test scores in rural China, but has no significant effect on Chinese test scores or total years of schooling.
Observational StudyCigarette smoking and associated health risks among students at five universities.
College students with light and intermittent smoking (LITS) are at risk for tobacco dependence and other adverse health effects, requiring proactive interventions from health providers.
Observational Study
Highly CitedLink between perceived smoking behaviour at school and students smoking status: a large survey among Italian adolescents.
School environment and role model behavior significantly influence student smoking, with older students more likely to start smoking due to friends smoking.
Observational StudySchool Context Variables and Students’ Smoking
School context variables influence students' smoking, but individual factors mediate family influences, rather than school policies.
Observational StudyThe Relationship Between Student Smoking in the School Environment and Smoking Onset in Elementary School Students
High senior student smoking rates in elementary schools increase the risk of students becoming ever smokers, with low-risk students being over twice as likely to try smoking if they attend a high-risk school.
Observational StudyHighly CitedTobacco smoking and health-related quality of life among university students: Mediating effect of depression
Cigarette smoking is associated with poorer mental and physical health-related quality of life in university students, with depression acting as a mediator.
Observational StudyRigorous JournalImpact Of Smoking On Students' Knowledge In High School In Sragen, Central Java
Smoking negatively impacts health in 68.6% of students, while 11 (31.4%) showed a positive health impact.
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