Social class and smoking at age 15: the effect of different definitions of smoking

Aim. To explore whether the association between social class and smoking among teenagers varies according to the definition of smoking adopted. Design, setting and participants. A survey of 2196 15-year-olds in 43 secondary schools in the West of Scotland. Measures. Current smoking status and number of cigarettes smoked, and social class based on the occupation of the head of the household. Findings. 'Current smoker' was the only category not significantly differentiated by class; the ratio of smokers from unskilled compared with professional backgrounds rose with increasingly stringent definitions of smoking. Conclusion. The extent to which teenage smoking is patterned by social class depends on the definition of smoking adopted.