Study: Anti-Smoking Ads Influence Teen BehaviorDecember 13, 2002
Research Summary
A new study shows that teens exposed to multiple anti-tobacco television ads are less likely to start smoking, Reuters reported Dec. 10.The study also concluded that the more anti-smoking television ads teens see, the longer they remain nonsmokers.
The study was based on a telephone survey of 12- to 20-year-olds involved in a follow-up survey on the Florida "truth" anti-tobacco media campaign. The campaign featured 11 television ads that informed youth about the strategies used by the tobacco industry to popularize smoking.
According to the study, the 40 percent of participants who were able to describe in detail four or more ads were 68 percent more likely to remain nonsmokers at follow-up. Those who could describe at least one of the 11 ads were 27 percent more likely to remain nonsmokers.
The study's findings are published in the November 2002 issue of Preventive Medicine.
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