Movies beat sports in their influence on teen smoking
A research study by the National Organization of Mothers of Twins Clubs, Inc. (NOMOTC) which focused on “Multiples in Extra-Curricular Activities” found that 84% of the parents surveyed first enrolled their multiples in extra-curricular activities between the ages of 4 and 5.
Once multiples started into elementary school, parents answering the NOMOTC survey reported choir/music and soccer as the most popular school-related activities, while summer camp and swimming were listed as the most popular activities outside of school. Parents also reported that most of the time, their multiples participated together in activities. The greatest challenge in having two or more on the same team, according to the NOMOTC research, was having one multiple who was better than the other in an activity.
However, research now suggests another challenge for these parents of multiples, as well as parents of single-born children. While participation in sporting activities can certainly reap some health benefits, research shows sports participation loses out to the impact of movies when it come to the issue of teen smoking.
In fact, the study, which was published in the July issue of the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine and cited in an article by US News and World Report, says that 30 percent to 50 percent of teen smokers connect their habit with seeing the stars “light up” in movies.
Statistics from Kansas and Oklahoma show significant numbers of Midwestern teens are taking a chance on tobacco. The 2007 Kansas Youth Risk Behavior Survey reported that 21 percent of Kansas high school students smoke as compared to a rate of 18 percent for Kansas adults. And Oklahoma’s numbers are even higher with 42 percent of high school students and 21 percent of middle school students reporting that they either smoke cigarettes or use other tobacco products. These numbers give Oklahoma the distinction of being among the 10 worst states percentage-wise for adolescent smoking.
What can parents do? Considering the impact of movies on teen smoking, parents can work to monitor the movies being viewed by their children. Websites promoting movies currently in theatres can offer information concerning the movie’s rating and sometimes a glimpse at selected scenes. The website, scenesmoking.org, also offers feedback concerning the use of tobacco in the week’s top 10 movies. If you’re planning to rent a movie for home viewing, the website, smokingsides, provides reviews of movies released in previous years.
© Examiner
the attachments to this post:
Film Ice Age
