Smoking among kibbutz youth: Patterns, perceptions, and determinants

A population of 54 high-school-aged kibbutz youth in Israel were studied to assess their smoking habits. Twenty (37%) were smokers. Among the smokers, 15 (75%) smoked daily, with four smoking as many as 10–20 cigarettes per day. Nearly half of the group believed smoking affected their health and were interested in stopping their use of cigarettes. Smokers when compared to nonsmokers had more positive peer relations (X² = 9.308; p < 0.01), less positive relations with parents (X² = 8.293; p < 0.01), more boredom with kibbutz life (X² = 3.468; p < 0.10), and less involvement with a hobby, sport, or reading (X² = 3.133, p < 0.10). Parents' smoking habits, marital status of the parents, students' self-evaluation of their academic performance, and youths' age and sex did not differentiate smokers from nonsmokers.