Social, psychological, and genetic contributions to adolescent smoking progression (UPenn, Audrain).
Audrain-McGovern, J.¹, Rodriguez, D.¹, Tercyak, K.², Shields, P.², Lerman, C.¹, & Wileyto, P.¹. ¹University of Pennsylvania TTURC, ²Georgetown University.

Adolescence represents an important developmental period whereby lifetime smoking habits are established. Despite the public health significance of smoking among adolescents, our understanding of the development of smoking behavior and the factors that influence smoking progression in this population is limited. To fill this gap we conducted a longitudinal cohort study of over 1,000 adolescents followed from ages 14-18 years. Social, psychological, and genetic, determinants were measured. Latent growth models indicated that physical activity and other substitute reinforcers (e.g., academic performance, club involvement) might be protective against smoking progression whereas complementary reinforcers (e.g., alcohol and marijuana use, peer smoking) promote smoking progression. Although analyses of genotype are still in progress at this time, initial analyses indicate that the dopamine D2 receptor gene and depression interact to facilitate smoking progression in adolescents. With respect to longitudinal smoking patterns, latent class growth analyses revealed four smoking trajectories: never smokers, stable experimenters, earlier/faster smoking adopters, and later/slower smoking adopters. These trajectories will be characterized by social, psychological, and genetic variables. The results will inform youth smoking prevention and smoking cessation intervention efforts by highlighting optimal intervention timing, which adolescents to target, and what variables may be important to address in an intervention.