School-related factors affecting smoking intention among Korean middle school students

Introduction: This study examined school-related factors affecting smoking intention among Korean middle school students who were current non-smokers. Methods: We used a descriptive, cross-sectional design based on the model explaining smoking initiation among Asian adolescents, to analyze data from 561 adolescents aged 14-16 years in middle school. Results: School-related cognitive and psychological engagement and close friends' smoking were significantly associated with smoking intention after controlling for covariates, such as personal and familial factors. Of the familial factors, mothers' previous or current smoking status were significantly associated with smoking intention. In addition, for personal factors, smoking experience was associated with smoking intention. The explanatory power of these variables in the predictive model was 36.0%. Conclusion: Health care providers in schools and communities should develop smoking prevention strategies reflecting school-related factors associated with smoking intention such as improving school engagement and providing healthy alternative methods for social interaction with peers rather than smoking.