Smoking in Hollywood movies: impact on teen smoking with special reference to German adolescents

Przegl Lek. 2007;64(10):615-7.

Abstract

This paper summarizes studies that have linked exposure to movie smoking and smoking initiation among adolescents. Much of the research linking exposure to smoking to movies with adolescent smoking comes from studies of U.S. children and their exposure to smoking in Hollywood movies. Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies have assessed such exposure and have found a strong, independent association with smoking onset. A first study conduced in Germany reveals that smoking in internationally distributed movies is a risk factor for ever and current smoking among European adolescents, too. It is concluded that limiting exposure of young adolescents to movie smoking could have important world-wide public health implications.

Publication types

  • Editorial

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adolescent Behavior*
  • Europe
  • Female
  • Germany / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Imitative Behavior*
  • Male
  • Motion Pictures*
  • Population Groups / psychology
  • Risk Factors
  • Smoking / epidemiology*
  • United States