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How do friends influence smoking uptake? Findings from qualitative interviews with identical twins
Citation
McLeod, K and White, V and Mullins, R and Davey, C and Wakefield, M and Hill, D, How do friends influence smoking uptake? Findings from qualitative interviews with identical twins, The Journal of Genetic Psychology: Research and Theory on Human Development, 169, (2) pp. 117-132. ISSN 0022-1325 (2008) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2008 Taylor and Francis
DOI: doi:10.3200/GNTP.169.2.117-132
Abstract
The smoking behavior of friends is a major risk factor for adolescent smoking
uptake. To explore the social context of smoking experimentation and consolidation
with a particular focus on friends, the authors interviewed both members of 14 young
adult identical twin pairs who were discordant for smoking. The different smoking status
of twins was connected to their different friendship groups and development of different
identities. Smoking respondents gravitated to the behaviors and images of the peer
group who smoked. Many nonsmokers felt strong pressure from their peers not to smoke
and spoke about how the images conveyed by smoking were inconsistent with their peer
group’s image. Adolescents and young adults are aware of the messages that smoking can
convey to others and exploit these images to construct a social identity.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | adolescence; peer group; smoking; twins |
Research Division: | Human Society |
Research Group: | Sociology |
Research Field: | Sociological methodology and research methods |
Objective Division: | Health |
Objective Group: | Public health (excl. specific population health) |
Objective Field: | Public health (excl. specific population health) not elsewhere classified |
UTAS Author: | McLeod, K (Dr Kim McLeod) |
ID Code: | 88667 |
Year Published: | 2008 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 4 |
Deposited By: | School of Social Sciences |
Deposited On: | 2014-02-12 |
Last Modified: | 2014-10-07 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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