The Impact of Self-Control Indices on Peer Smoking and Adolescent Smoking Progression

Objective To determine the direct impact of self-control variables on baseline smoking and smoking progression and determine whether self-control had indirect effects on smoking practices through effects on peer smoking. Methods Study participants were 918 adolescents who were followed from 9th through the 12th grade and completed self-report measures of peer smoking, self-control, and cigarette smoking. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted to assess the factor structure of a 41-item self-control measure. The EFA indicated a six-factor structure comprising of impulsive control, planning, hostile blaming, attentional disregulation, conscientiousness, and physical aggression. Results The results of a latent growth model indicated that conscientiousness (OR = 0.81, CI = 0.73–0.90), hostile blaming (OR = 0.89, CI = 0.81–0.99), and physical aggression (OR = 1.16, CI = 1.06–1.27) had direct effects on baseline smoking, whereas planning (OR = 0.90, CI = 0.82–0.99) and impulse control (OR = 1.15, CI = 1.02–1.28) had indirect effects on adolescent smoking at baseline through baseline peer smoking. There were no significant direct or indirect effects of the self-control indices on smoking progression. There was a direct effect of peer smoking progression (number of peers who smoked) on adolescent smoking progression, such that increases in th