Smoking and snus use among youth: A longitudinal analysis of risk factors and socioeconomic profile.

Abstract

Background: Norwegian youth smoking has, to a larger extent than snus use, been associated with lower socioeconomic strata, and research has pointed at ideas in the youth population about the popularity and normality of snus use that are not found for smoking. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between socioeconomic status and other risk factors with snus use and smoking among people in their late teens.

Methods: Based on data from the longitudinal MyLife school survey, collected in five yearly waves between 2017 and 2021 (N = 1830, age 16.8-20.6 years in 2021, 64% girls), logistic regressions were performed with monthly snus use and smoking as dependents, and parents' education, psychological characteristics and earlier smoking or snus use as independent variables.

Results: High socioeconomic status (parents' education) was associated with less smoking and snus use also after controlling for psychological characteristics and earlier smoking and snus use. Higher age increased the risk of snus use and reduced the risk of smoking.

Conclusions: Youth snus use and smoking are associated with lower socioeconomic background. This supports the idea that snus use may have lost some of its position as a mainstream activity among youth.