This report presents the top-line findings from the 2006 Year 10 In-depth Survey (YIS). The YIS is part of the New Zealand Youth Tobacco Monitor (NZYTM), a national survey of 14 and 15 year-olds' behaviours, and risk and protective factors associated with smoking uptake.
This report presents top-line findings from the 2006 YIS, covering the following topics:
- Part 1: Current tobacco smoking behaviour.
- Part 2: Attitudes and beliefs related to smoking.
- Part 3: Smoking cessation experience ('current smokers' only).
- Part 4: Exposure to others' smoking.
- Part 5: Smoking-related health promotion messages.
- Part 6: Youth culture.
- Part 7: Connectedness – parents and school.
- Part 8: Awareness of, and attitudes towards, the tobacco industry.
Key Results
One-half of participating students had never smoked a cigarette, not even just a few puffs. Almost nine out of ten students do not think they would be smoking five years from the time of the survey. Overall, a greater proportion of students who had never smoked a cigarette reported anti-tobacco and anti-smoking attitudes, compared with 'current smokers'.
Two-thirds of Year 10 students reported that someone had smoked around them in places other than in the home on at least one of the seven days prior to the survey. A greater proportion of students who had never smoked a cigarette reported that none of their friends or family/whānau smoke, compared with 'current smokers'. 'Current smokers' were more likely to say that their favourite musician or actor/actress smokes, compared with those who did not smoke. Young people who live and socialise within networks where smoking is common are likely to require targeted messages to counteract the norms of behaviour around them. Nine out of ten students reported that they had seen advertisements or messages on television and in print media about not smoking a lot or sometimes in the month prior to the survey.
Reducing the harm from tobacco is one of nine of the Ministry of Health's health sector targets (Minister of Health, 2007), and efforts to build capacity in the public health sector reflect this commitment. Public policy in New Zealand has an important role in reinforcing the message that youth uptake of smoking is unacceptable. Surveys that capture detailed information about individuals can guide public health and policy direction, as well as measure the success of existing interventions. The YIS will be repeated as part of the NZYTM in 2008 to collect information on successes and areas for improvement in reducing smoking initiation among youth in New Zealand. With understanding and adequate resources, the tobacco control community will be better equipped to achieve a primary prevention approach to smoking among youth.