Self-efficacy, affectivity and smoking behavior in adolescence.

BACKGROUND Research on health-related behaviors confirms the contribution of self-efficacy and affective factors to the initiation and continuation of smoking behavior. The aim was to assess the degree to which affectivity contributes to the association between self-efficacy and smoking behavior in adolescence. METHODS A sample of 501 elementary school students (mean age 14.7 ± 0.9 years, 48.5% males) from the Slovak and Czech Republics filled out the Self-Efficacy Scale, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule and answered questions about smoking behavior. RESULTS Logistic regression showed that social self-efficacy increased the likelihood of smoking behavior but only after adding positive and negative affectivity to the model. Adjustment for age and gender as covariates did not change these findings. CONCLUSION Results show the need to prepare programs aimed at enhancing appropriate social self-efficacy and especially improving skills to resist the pressures emerging from peers. Adolescents should also learn to handle their negative emotions differently, instead of through smoking behavior.