Assessing teen smoking patterns: The weekend phenomenon

BackgroundAdolescent cigarette smokers may have more daily variability in their smoking patterns than adults. A better understanding of teen smoking patterns can inform the development of more effective adolescent smoking cessation interventions.MethodsTeen smokers seeking cessation treatment (N = 366) reported the number of cigarettes smoked on each day of a typical week. A paired t-test was used to examine differences between weekday (Sunday–Thursday) and weekend (Friday–Saturday) smoking. Main effects and interactions for race/ethnicity and gender were assessed using a 2-way ANOVA for the following variables: typical weekly smoking, average weekday smoking, average weekend smoking, and difference between weekday and weekend smoking. Scheffé post hoc tests were used to analyze any statistically significant differences.ResultsThere was significantly more weekend smoking compared to weekday smoking, p < 0.001. The difference in weekday versus weekend smoking levels was larger for females than for males, p < 0.05. Hispanics reported less typical weekly smoking, p < 0.001, less weekday smoking, p < 0.001, and less weekend day smoking, p < 0.01, compared to Caucasians and multi-racial teens. There was no difference in weekend day versus weekday smoking by race/ethnic background.ConclusionsUsing a more detailed assessment of smoking quantity captures patterns of adolescent smoking that may lead to more effective smoking cessation interventions.