CULTURAL NUANCES IN ADOLESCENT SMOKING: THE ROLE OF FAMILY, TEACHERS, AND ECONOMIC WELL-BEING IN NORTH MACEDONIA

Abstract

The epidemic of smoking bears grave implications for the health of individuals, escalating mortality rates in alarming numbers globally. This circumstance has compelled
institutions and policymakers to implement diverse strategies to alleviate this challenging
issue. Concurrently, researchеres are focused on identifying various social and personal
factors to increase the efficacy of these strategies, particularly during adolescence, a highly susceptible age prone to risky behaviors. The support from family and teachers, as well
as communication with parents, emerge as predictors of smoking, although findings are
varying in research conducted in different countries. This study aims to predict smoking
based on family and teacher support, communication with the father and mother, and
family financial well-being among Macedonian and Albanian adolescents. The sample encompasses 5144 adolescents aged 11, 13, and 15 from North Macedonia, with 48.4% being
male and 51.6% female. Reflecting the population structure, 66.6% are Macedonian adolescents, and 33.4% are Albanians. The data presented is part of the cross-sectional study
Health Behaviour in School-aged Children collected during 2022.
The findings derived from binary logistic regression indicate that the communication
with the father and the support from the teachers serve as predictors for smoking in both
ethnic groups. Family support, communication with the mother, family structure, and
economic well-being resulted as smoking predictors in Macedonian adolescents but not
in their Albanian counterparts. Differences in smoking concerning the gender and age of
adolescents are additionally discussed. Devising policies to reduce smoking must address
the cultural specificities of different ethnic groups within countries.