Date of Graduation

2004

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MA

Committee Chair

Deborah J. Jones

Committee Chair

Deborah J. Jones

Abstract

This cross-sectional investigation examined main and interactive effects of positive parenting and parental smoking on adolescent smoking in 934 families. Data were analyzed using logistic regression analyses. Findings indicated that higher levels of either maternal or paternal smoking were associated with daughters’ smoking; however, only paternal smoking was associated with sons’ smoking. Moreover, findings revealed that lower levels of either maternal or paternal positive parenting were associated with daughters’ smoking, but only maternal positive parenting was associated with sons’ smoking. When the two components of the positive parenting construct were analyzed separately, it appeared that parental warmth was associated with adolescent smoking, but parental control was not. Lower levels of either maternal or paternal warmth were associated with sons’ smoking, but only paternal warmth was associated with daughters’ smoking. Finally, a parental smoking x parental warmth interaction was found, suggesting that the combination of lower levels of parental warmth and higher levels of parental smoking is associated with the greatest risk of adolescent smoking, regardless of parent or adolescent gender. Overall, these findings suggest that positive parenting, and parental warmth in particular, are protective against adolescent smoking. Results highlight the importance of family factors in adolescent cigarette smoking.

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