Key result
Regular sports participation was negatively associated with current smoking among 12th-13th grade male students, whereas smoking increased with grade level in those with no or occasional activity.
Why the study?
Does regular sports participation reduce the prevalence of cigarette smoking in male high school students?
Cross-Sectional (n=1,462)
No
Does regular sports participation reduce the prevalence of cigarette smoking in male high school students?
Regular sports participation is associated with a lower prevalence of smoking among older male high school students.
May support promoting sports to address smoking in older male students; leaves open causality and needs prospective confirmation.
All the male students in a high school in Brescia, North Italy (about 195,000 inhabitants) in Grades 9 through 13 were given a self-administered anonymous questionnaire during school time. Among the 1,462 students who filled in a valid questionnaire, 29.1% claimed to practice one or more sports regularly (at least 4 hours/week for 9 months/year or more), 30.2% practice sports occasionally, and 40.7% no sports at all. The percentage of current smokers (at least one cigarette a month) increased from 9th grade (11.1%) to 10th (13.2%), 11th (15.2%), 12th (27.7%), and 13th (23.7%) grade. The percentage of smokers showed a steady linear increase from the lowest to the highest grade in students practicing no or occasional activity but no increase in those who regularly practice sports. Students' smoking was negatively associated with the regular practice of sports among 12th-13th grade students.
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Donato et al. (1997) conducted a cross-sectional in Cigarette Smoking and Sports Participation (n=1,462). Sports participation vs. No or occasional sports participation was evaluated on Current smoking (at least one cigarette a month). Regular sports participation was negatively associated with current smoking among 12th-13th grade male students, whereas smoking increased with grade level in those with no or occasional activity.
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