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Table 4 Comparison of motives and behaviors among smokers between high school students and middle school students (n, %)

From: Smoking related attitudes, motives, and behaviors of male secondary school students in an urban setting of China

Variable

Middle school (n = 61)

High school (n = 334)

p-value

Yes

Rank

Yes

Rank

The way to obtain the first cigarette

 Friends gave it to me

27 (44.3)

1

208 (62.3)

1

0.004*

 Took it from home by myself

10 (16.4)

3

62 (18.6)

2

 Parents gave it to me

6 (9.8)

4

14 (4.2)

5

 Bought it by myself

5 (8.2)

5

23 (6. 9)

4

 Other ways

13 (21.3)

2

27 (8.1)

3

Supported smoking ban in public places

0.004*

 Yes

57 (93.4)

1

251 (75.2)

1

 No

4 (6.6)

2

83 (24.9)

2

Tried to quit smoking

0.008*

 Yes

57 (93.4)

1

196 (58.7)

1

 No

4 (6.6)

2

138 (41.3)

2

The motivation to smoke for the first time

0.008*

 Curious

43 (70.5)

1

173 (51.8)

1

 Imitation of smoker friends

8 (13.1)

2

53 (15.9)

3

 Influenced by film or television

2 (3.3)

4

5 (1.5)

6

 Rebellious psychology

1 (1.6)

5

13 (3.9)

5

 Relieve stress and social pressures

0 (0.0)

6

57 (17.1)

2

 Other reasons

7 (11.5)

3

33 (9.9)

4

  1. * Statistically significant (p < 0.05)