Do sports clubs promote snuff use? Trends among Finnish boys between 1981 and 1991

Adolescent snuff use was rare in Finland but increased in the 1980s. ‘Snuffing’ was most frequent in urban regions and among the physically active. Physical activity has, however, been found to promote a healthy lifestyle. We analysed the relationship between snuff use and physical activity, especia...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Health education research 1995-06, Vol.10 (2), p.147-154
Main Authors: Karvonen, J. S., Rimpelä, A. H., Rimpelä, M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent boys
Finland
Influence
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Smokeless use
Sports clubs
Tobacco
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Summary:Adolescent snuff use was rare in Finland but increased in the 1980s. ‘Snuffing’ was most frequent in urban regions and among the physically active. Physical activity has, however, been found to promote a healthy lifestyle. We analysed the relationship between snuff use and physical activity, especially that organized by sports clubs, during a 10 year period. Boys between 16 and 18 years old were studied in a biannual Adolescent Health and Lifestyle Survey in 1981–1983 (N = 3667, response rate 76%), 1987 (N = 3175, 73%) and 1991 (N = 2936, 65%) by mailed questionnaires. Snuff use was related only to physical activity organized by sports clubs and only in the most urbanized area. Smoking was less frequent among the participants of sports club activities than the non-participants. In sports clubs, snuff users drank and smoked more frequently than non-users. Of tobacco users, snuff use was five times more common among participants of sports club activities than non-participants. Snuff use has partly substituted for cigarette smoking in the sports clubs of the most urbanized area. During the study period the social environment of the sports clubs has persistently encouraged the adoption of habitual snuff use.
ISSN:0268-1153
1465-3648
DOI:10.1093/her/10.2.147