Leisure Activity and Smoking among Ukrainian Adolescents

Background: The aim of this paper was to investigate associations between engagement in specific types of leisure activities and smoking among Ukrainian adolescents. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 1075 adolescents enrolled in the Family and Children of Ukraine birth cohort study using a self-administered questionnaire to determine their leisure activities and smoking behaviors. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, calculation of odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals, and gender-stratified analyses using Mantel Haen szel methods. Results: 51.6% of males and 41.4% of females reported ever smoking and 22.8% of males and 15.8% of females had smoked within the past 30 days. Risk factors for ever having smoked include socializing on the internet (OR=1.84; 95% CI: [1.25-2.71]), playing sports (OR=1.48; 95% CI: [1.07-2.04]), and visiting entertainment venues (OR=1.94; 95% CI: [1.44-2.61]). Reading books for leisure was protective against both ever having smoked (OR=0.53; 95% CI: [0.40-0.70]) and smoking in the past 30 days (OR=0.45; 95% CI: [0.32-0.63]). Engaging in drawing or crafts was also protective against both ever having smoked (OR= 0.61; 95% CI: [0.45-0.80]) and smoking in the past 30 days (0.58; 95% CI: [0.40-0.82]). Leading a cultural life (going to theaters, concerts, museums) was protective against having smoked in the past 30 days (OR=0.62; 95% CI: [0.44-0.87]). Conclusions: We conclude that engagement in specific types of leisure activities can affect the risk of adolescents’ smoking behaviors.