Substance Use & Misuse, 43:341–360 Copyright © 2008 Informa Healthcare USA, Inc. ISSN: 1082-6084 (print); 1532-2491 (online) DOI: 10.1080/10826080701202833 Tobacco: Adolescents Smoking Behavior in Asthmatic and Non-Asthmatic Adolescents: The Role of Smoking Models and Personality ROY OTTEN, RUTGER C.M.E. ENGELS, AND REGINA J.J.M. VAN DEN EIJNDEN Behavioral Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands Despite the particular health risks for asthmatics, recent international studies have reported that tobacco use among asthmatics is similar to, or even higher than, non- asthmatics. This study examined the role of personality and environment in smoking among asthmatic and non-asthmatic adolescents. In 2003 a random sample of 33 schools (first and second class of secondary education) was obtained in The Netherlands (N = 4,951). The mean age of the participants was 12.83 (SD = .75), and 52.8% were females. Information about asthma, smoking, personality, and environmental smoking was assessed via self-reports on standard epidemiology survey items (asthma, smok- ing) and the Quick Big Five (personality). Both personality and environmental smoking were associated with smoking. Asthmatics were similarly or even more exposed to envi- ronmental smoke than non-asthmatic adolescents and asthmatic adolescents were less emotionally stable and extravert. Associations between personality and own smoking behavior, as well as between smoking models and own smoking behavior were simi- lar for asthmatic and non-asthmatics. Limitations of the study are taken notice of, and implications of the results are briefly discussed. Keywords Smoking behavior; adolescents; asthma; smoking models; personality; pro- tective factors; risk factors; normative; active smoking; passive smoking; environmental tobacco smoke exposure (ETS); Quick Big Five Introduction According to the World Health Organization, tobacco use is currently the fourth most common risk factor for diseases and it is considered to be responsible for the death of one in ten adults worldwide (World Health Organization [WHO], 2004). To reduce these numbers it is important to focus on adolescents, since adolescence is a period in which youngsters Abbreviations: ISAAC, International Study of Asthma and Allergy in ChildhooD; OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval. Address correspondence to Dr. Roy Otten, Behavioral Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands. E-mail: R.Otten@pwo.ru.nl 341 Subst Use Misuse Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen For personal use only.