Abstract

    The main use of this study is to show how children whose main parent smokes are likely to be in homes with many other problems associated with the parents, family, neighbourhood and school, and that this smoking factor, has an adverse effect on both girls and boys eight years later, in 2003, when they are teens.

    Some 29% of children had a main parent who smoked in 1995, 28% of girls and 30% of boys. This ranged from 25% in Ontario to 35% in Quebec and 36% in Newfoundland.

    Tables reveal that a wide range of positive (negative) characteristics of the child, parents, and family are negatively (positively) associated with the children whose parents smoke. Some of the characteristics appear to be important for either girls or boys, while others one might expect to be important do not appear to be so.

    Analytical results include the following. For girls and boys the parent's smoking increases the frequency of marijuana smoking; illicit drug use (other than marijuana); times suicide attempted; times suicide seriously considered; number of close friends who smoke (have used marijuana; drunk alcohol); and times drugs sold.

    For girls only the parent's smoking increases the likelihood smoking, the times intoxicated; likelihood of having sex; the dislike of their appearance; their weight; their pessimism about the future; and emotional distance from their mother and father. Parent's smoking among boys increases LSD/acid use; number known who have committed suicide; times questioned by the police; the tendency to get upset easily; and likelihood of their parents being separated or divorced. Unexpectedly, sexually active girls were more likely to use birth control.

    Key assumptions concern the deterrent effect of high risk and delinquent behaviours of teens (and positive influences on well-being) resulting from the parent having an evangelical faith (E), and the child's frequency of church attendance (C). For example, for girls and boys: smoking E; frequency of marijuana smoking C&E; times intoxicated E; drinks alcohol E; has had sex C; number of close friends who have smoked marijuana C; number of close friends who have drunk alcohol E; and happy with life C;

    Significant results for girls only: gets angry less often C; has had sex E; age when first had sex (older) E; number of close friends who have used marijuana E (who have smoked); close relationship with mother and father C; and parents rarely upset with each other C.

    And for boys only: non-marijuana drug use C; LSD/acid use C; drinks alcohol C; times intoxicated C; times things damaged C (unexpected positive influence of E); times drugs sold C; times questioned by the police C (unexpected positive influence of E); likes doing things for others C (unexpected negative influence of E); and parents married in 2003 C.

    The lessons are clear: actions speak louder than words and removing the negative ones from the home yields great benefits for children in the teen years. Children, parents, teachers, ministers and community leaders can all be changed by the clear results of fact.