Social network and inequalities in smoking amongst school-aged adolescents in six European countries

Vincent Lorant (), Victoria Soto (), Pierre-Olivier Robert, Jaana M. Kinnunen, Mirte A. G. Kuipers, Irene Moor, Gaetano Roscillo, Joana Alves, Arja Rimpelä, Bruno Federico, Matthias Richter, Julian Perelman and Anton E. Kunst
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Vincent Lorant: Université Catholique de Louvain
Pierre-Olivier Robert: Université Catholique de Louvain
Jaana M. Kinnunen: University of Tampere
Mirte A. G. Kuipers: University of Amsterdam
Irene Moor: Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
Gaetano Roscillo: University of Cassino and Southern Lazio
Joana Alves: University of Lisbon
Arja Rimpelä: University of Tampere
Bruno Federico: University of Cassino and Southern Lazio
Matthias Richter: Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
Julian Perelman: University of Lisbon
Anton E. Kunst: University of Amsterdam

International Journal of Public Health, 2017, vol. 62, issue 1, No 6, 53-62

Abstract: Abstract Objectives Smoking contributes to socio-economic health inequalities; but it is unclear how smoking inequalities emerge at a young age. So far, little attention has been paid to the role of friendship ties. We hypothesised that the combination of peer exposure and friendship social homophily may contribute to socio-economic inequalities in smoking at school. Methods In 2013, a social network survey was carried out in 50 schools in six medium-size European cities (Namur, Tampere, Hanover, Latina, Amersfoort, and Coimbra). Adolescents in grades corresponding to the 14-to-16 age group were recruited (n = 11.015, participation rate = 79.4 %). We modelled adolescents’ smoking behaviour as a function of socio-economic background, and analysed the mediating role of social homophily and peer exposure. Results Lower socio-economic groups were more likely to smoke and were more frequently exposed to smoking by their close and distant friends, compared with adolescents of higher SES. The smoking risk of the lowest socio-economic group decreased after controlling for friends smoking and social homophily. Conclusions Smoking socio-economic inequalities amongst adolescents are driven by friendship networks.

Keywords: Smoking; Socio-economic inequalities; Adolescent; Social network (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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DOI: 10.1007/s00038-016-0830-z

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