Reducing adolescent smoking initiation

Description

This research project was funded by several grants from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the National Prevention Research Initiative and was led by Professor Mark Conner. We have been conducting this research on adolescent smoking initiation for over 15 years.  Our work includes a number of studies looking at predictors of starting smoking in adolescence. 

In addition, we have conducted three prospective studies in smoking initiation in this age group.  This work uses implementation intentions to help adolescents pre-plan how to say no to offers of cigarettes. In a pilot study (n=104), an explanatory trial (n=1338) and a pragmatic trial (n=6155) this work shows that this intervention reduces smoking initiation in 11-16 year olds.