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Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne de Santé Publique logoLink to Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne de Santé Publique
. 2001 Nov 1;92(6):428–432. doi: 10.1007/BF03404533

Smoking Behaviour and Dietary Restraint in Young Adolescent Women: The Role of Physical Self-Perceptions

Peter Crocker 16,✉, Nanette Kowalski 26, Kent Kowalski 26, Karen Chad 26, Louise Humbert 26, Shannon Forrester 26
PMCID: PMC6979877  PMID: 11799546

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the relationship among BMI, smoking consumption, dietary restraint, smoking to control weight, physical self-perception and self-esteem in young female adolescents.

Methods: 702 grade 9 students (14–15 yrs old) completed self-reported validated measures in classroom settings.

Results: 26.7 % of students had smoked in the last 30 days. Cigarette consumption was low with only 13% smoking one or more cigarettes a day. MANOVA revealed smokers had higher dietary restraint and lower perceptions of physical appearance, conditioning, and self-esteem. A similar pattern emerged for those girls classified as using smoking to control weight. Multiple regression found dietary restraint was predicted by higher BMI, and lower body appearance and self-esteem.

Conclusions: The data provided converging evidence that girls with low self-perceptions are more likely to engage in health-compromising behaviours. Smoking behaviours and dietary restraint were also linked. However, the small effect sizes for smoking behaviours warrants caution.

Footnotes

This research was supported by a grant from the Saskatchewan Heart & Stroke Foundation

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