| Sumario: | Background Although several studies have reported findings concerning the interrelationshipbetween smoking and specific health behaviours, little research has investigated how smokingbehaviour may be associated with a cluster of health-related behaviours. The present study was aneffort to extend previous research through assessing smoking status, patterns of physical andsedentary activity, as well as eating behaviours and diet quality, in order to gain some insightregarding the relationship between cigarette smoking and a cluster of health behaviours in aGreek sample of adolescents.Methods A sample of 2008 students (1021 male and 987 female, 12-17 years of age, 7th-12thgrade) was selected from all schools of a representative Athens suburb in Greece. All childrencompleted a questionnaire that was developed for the purposes of the study which retrievedinformation about age, sex, school class, individual and family smoking status, dietary habits andphysical activity. Various statistical tests were performed.Results Age, playtime, consumption of soft drinks and foods from school canteens were positivelyassociated with smoking status while the consumption of fruit juice, dairy products for breakfastand the frequency of breakfasts were inversely associated the aforementioned dependent variable.Conclusions This study supports the interrelationships between multiple lifestyle behaviours andtobacco use in adolescents. Future research is needed in order to elaborate on the nature of theserelations, especially for those at higher risk.
|