Abstract
Between November 1985 and October 1986, attitudes and habits towards smoking were investigated among young and adult amateur athletes of the province of Pordenone, in the northeastern part of Italy. Seventy-five percent of the athletes had never smoked and 21% were current smokers. Compared with the general population, smokers were 1/3 fewer among males and 1/5 more among females; a higher number of ex-smokers was found in both sexes. The major determinants of smoking were the kind of sport in which the athletes were engaged (percentages of current smokers among athletes of endurance sports, football and other, less exhaustive, sports were respectively 3%, 23% and 20%) and having both parents who were themselves smokers. The detrimental effects of smoking on health were underestimated by the great majority of interviewed subjects. The present study supports the view that regular phsical activity not only prevents youths from starting to smoke but also provides an incentive for stopping.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bewley B.R., Bland J.M., Harris R. (1974): Factors associated with the starting of cigarette smoking by primary school children. Br. J. Prev. and Soc. Med., 28: 37–44
Bienner K.J. (1975): The influence of health education on the use of alcohol and tobacco in adolescence. Preventive Medicine 4: 252–257.
Didisheim J.C. (1983): Les répercussions de la consommation de tabac sur les performances sportives. Therapeutische Umschau/revue thérapeutique 40: 117–120.
Doll R. (1977): Strategy for detection of cancer hazards to man. Nature, 265: 589–596.
Doll R. and Peto R. (1981): The causes of cancer: quantitative estimates of avoidable risks of cancer in the United States today. JNCI, 66: 1191–1308.
Franceschi S., Serraino D., Talamini R., Candiani E. (1986): Personal habits and attitudes towards smoking in a sample of physicians from the north-east of Italy. Intern. Journ. of Epidemiology 15: 584–585.
Franceschi S., Talamini R., Serraino D., Gallo E. (1986): Abitudini ed opinioni sul fumo di sigaretta in un campione di insegnanti della provincia di Pordenone. Epidemiologia e Prevenzione, 29: 51–54.
Hutchinson D.R., Mountain N.J. and McLatchie G.R. (1986): Smoking habits in professional football. Brit. J. Sports Med., 20: 113–114.
Istat (1984): Anamento demografico e sanitario. Notiziario 1984. Anno V, Set.-Nov.
LaVecchia C. (1986): Smoking in Italy, 1949–1983. Preventive Medicine, 15: 274–281.
LaVecchia C. (1985): Patterns of cigarette smoking and trends in lung cancer mortality in Italy. J. of Epid. and Comm. Hlth., 39: 157–164.
Khosla T., Campbell M. (1982): Resting pulse rate in marathon runners, Br. Med. J. [Clin Res], 284: 1444.
Mantel N., Haenszel W. (1959): Statistical aspects of the analysis of data from retrospective studies of disease. J. Nat. Cancert Inst., 22: 719–748.
Mantel N. (1963): Chi-square tests with one degree of freedom: extensions of the Maentel-Haenszel procedure. J. Am. Stat. Assoc., 58: 690–700.
McKennel A., andThomas R. (1967): Adult's and Adolescents' smoking habits and attitudes. Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London.
Office of Population Census and Surveys (1982): Cigarette smoking 1972–1982. OPCS Monitor GHS 83/3 London.
Remington P.L., Forman M.R., Gentry E.M., Marks J.S., Hogelin G.C. and Trowbridge F.L. (1985): Current smoking trends in the United States. JAMA, 253: 2975–2978.
Rooney J.F. (1984): Sports and clean living: a useful myth? Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 13: 75–78.
Royal college of Physicians (1983): Health or smoking? London Pitman.
Serraino D., Talamini R., Franceschi S. (1987): Determinants of smoking cessation among physicians and teachers from northeastern Italy. Rev. Epidém. et Santé Publ., 35: 393–400.
Talamini R., Bollini P., Bidoli E., Serraino D., Franceschi S. (1988): Investigation study of habits and opinions about cigarettes smoking among doctors, nurses and technical-clerical staff of the Magenta General Hospital. In press.
Unites States Department of Health and Human Services (1982): The health consequences of smoking — cancer: a report of the Surgeon General. Washington, DC: US GPO, DHHS publication no. (PHS) 82–50179.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Serraino, D., Fachin, C., Feltrin, O. et al. Sport activity and cigarette smoking among young and adult athletes from the northeastern part of Italy. Eur J Epidemiol 4, 497–502 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00146406
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00146406