[Analysis of motivation for cigarette smoking by teenagers based on a questionnaire distributed among school pupils staying in summer camps].

Cigarette smoking by teenagers is conditioned by many factors with psychosocial ones among them. The aim of our study was to define the reasons for cigarette smoking by juveniles in Poland nowadays. The analysis was performed on the basis of questionnaire given to 598 school pupils resting in the summer camps in the Tricity of three neighbouring towns of Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia. The study group included 357 females and 241 males, with an age of 8-19 years, on average 14.4. Out of the hole group 111 (18.6%) were smokers. This subgroup, 58 boys and 53 girls (age: 12-19 yrs.; on average 15.4), answered to several questions concerning cigarette smoking. Among remaining 487 non-smokers the prevalence of cigarette smoking among their parents was only assessed. As the main reason for smoking the majority (69.4%) of smokers reported the stress reduction. Pleasure was another frequently reported (29.7%) reason for cigarette smoking. Peers smoking was an important reason for cigarette smoking for 28.8% of school pupils. We found that the example of smoking parents significantly influenced the prevalence of smoking cigarettes among teenagers. The majority (73.9%) of smoking pupils knew the cigarette were harmful. Obtained results show the multiplicity of reasons for cigarette smoking by juveniles resulting mainly from psychosocial factors. There is a great necessity of antismoking programs for school pupils adjusted to specificity of psychology of adolescence as well as the exemplary role of adults creating a life style without cigarette.