Predictors of smoking behaviour among indigenous Sami adolescents and non-indigenous peers in North Norway

Abstract

Aims: A study was undertaken to examine predictors of smoking behaviour among indigenous Sami adolescents and non-indigenous peers in North Norway, and to examine for ethnic-specific predictors. Methods: This is a cross-sectional and longitudinal school-based and postal questionnaire study initially including 2,718 10th to 12th grade students (response rate (RR): 85%) in 1994—95 (T1). At the three-year follow-up (T2), in 1997 — 98, 1,405 were included (RR: 57%). Indigenous Sami contributed 23% (599/324) of the total samples. Logistic regression was used to examine the influence of sociodemographic and psychosocial predictors on smoking behaviour. Results: The proportions of regular smokers were 33% (729) and 35% (401) at T1 and T2, respectively, while 19% (153) had initiated current smoking during the study period. Substance use, externalizing problems, sexual activity and vocational training (p≤0.01) predicted regular smoking both cross-sectionally and prospectively. Among non-smokers at T1, age and frequent alcohol intoxication predicted current smoking prospectively (p≤0.01). Frequent intoxication predicted all stages of smoking (p≤0.001). Ethnicity did not predict smoking in this study. Laestadian Christian affiliation increased the prevalence of experimental smoking at T1 but only for Sami students. Conclusions: Youth smoking behaviour was strongly associated with risk-taking behaviours, indicating that a broader focus on health-compromising behaviours in anti-smoking campaigns is needed. The findings indicate little need for culturally sensitive anti-smoking campaigns specially designed for indigenous Sami youth, as the main predictors (risk-taking behaviours) were similar across ethnic groups.