Prospective social-psychological factors of adolescent smoking progression.

Purpose: To evaluate the ability of social-psychological risk factors to predict adolescent smoking behavior.

Methods: Nonsmoking adolescents (n = 4032) who participated in the 1989 and 1993 Teenage Attitudes and Practices Surveys (TAPS I) were selected for analyses. Four multivariate logistic models were used to examine (a) adolescents' smoking initiation, (b) adults' smoking initiation, (c) adolescents' progression to regular smoking, and (d) adults' progression to regular smoking.

School dropouts' attitudes and beliefs about smoking.

The purpose of this study was to examine the association of beliefs and attitude related to smoking and smoking behavior among school dropouts in a national sample (weighted N = 492,352). The self-reported smoking rate for school dropouts was 58.3%.

Self-reported depression and risk-taking behaviors among Hispanic adolescents.

In assessing the relationships between self-reported depression and certain key risk-taking behaviors among a national sample of Hispanic adolescents (N = 935, ages 12 to 19 years), girls who reported depression were significantly more likely to engage in these behaviors than girls who did not report depression. No significant differences were found among boys (n = 470), although they were more likely than girls (n = 465) to take risks regardless of depressive state. These results suggest that depressive symptoms may be a market for engagement in risk-taking behaviors among Hispanic girls.

Association of depressive symptoms and school adolescents' smoking: a cross-lagged analysis.

This study examined the association of depressive symptoms of adolescents and their smoking behavior. A national cohort sample of school adolescents (N = 5,855) who participated in the 1989 and 1993 Teenage Attitudes and Practices Survey was obtained. The information from this survey included measures of smoking behavior and a series of factors related to depressive symptoms during a 3-yr.

Preventing relapse in weight control: a discussion of cognitive and behavioral strategies.

Weight maintenance is the most difficult part of weight control. People who diet and regain weight often experience negative physiological effects and lowered self-esteem each time they regain weight. This suggests the need for successful weight maintenance programs.

Family and peer influences on smoking behavior among American adolescents: an age trend.

Purpose: To study the age trend of family and peer influence on adolescent smoking behavior using a national sample.

Methods: Adolescents (N = 6,900), ages 14 through 18 years, from the 1988-89 Teenage Attitudes and Practices Survey, were selected for analyses. Data collected included measures for smoking status of the adolescent and their family and peers.

Predicting smoking status by symptoms of depression for U.S. adolescents.

This study examined the predictive relationships between adolescents' smoking and symptoms of depression. A national sample of 6,900 adolescents, ages 14 to 18 years, were selected for analysis. Variables of interest included measures for smoking status and symptoms of depression.

Tobacco use among American adolescents: geographic and demographic variations.

A previous national study indicated that the South dominated other regions of the United States in tobacco use. Using the results of the Teenage Attitudes and Practices Survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics, we examined the geographic and demographic differences of tobacco use among US adolescents. The sample consisted of teenagers in grades 7 through 12 nationwide (N = 6,599).

Effects of vasectomy and exercise upon aortic extensibility, cholesterol deposition, and stainable tissue lipids.

The effects of vasectomy and exercise upon arterial extensibility, cholesterol deposition, and the extent of stainable tissue lipids were determined in rats. A 2 X 3 factorial design with two activity levels (treadmill exercise and sedentary) and three treatment levels (vasectomy, sham vasectomy and control) were employed. The exercise groups had significantly greater arterial extensibility measures at breaking load and stretch distance at 45% load and breaking point.

The effects of vasectomy and exercise on cholesterol levels in rat aortas.

The effects of vasectomy and exercise upon esterified, unesterified and total cholesterol in rat aortic tissue was determined. A factorial design with two activity levels (aerobic exercise, sedentary) and three treatments (vasectomy, sham-vasectomy, control) was employed. Vasectomy significantly increased the amount of esterified and total cholesterol in aortic tissue.