Prevalence and influences on self-reported smoking among adolescents with mild learning disabilities, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and their typically developing peers

Abstract

Many adolescents take up the smoking habit despite its well-documented adverse health effects. This study explores the prevalence and influences on smoking among 89 adolescents with mild learning disabilities, 108 with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and 124 typically developing peers aged 12—16 years. All the participants were attending mainstream secondary schools and they were asked to complete a self-report questionnaire on smoking. It was found that adolescents with ADHD smoked more than adolescents with mild learning disabilities, who in turned smoked more than adolescents not diagnosed with any disability. More adolescents with ADHD reported that the majority of their friends smoked and they were less well informed about the health effects of smoking. No differences were identified between the three groups in terms of the smoking behaviour of their parents and the perceived attitudes of their parents and friends towards smoking. Findings are discussed and suggestions are made for further research.