Many young girls don't have the personal and social skills to cope. In the face of these pressures, adolescent girls may start smoking. Once tobacco becomes a part of their routine, physical addiction is usually close behind. With a learned dependence on cigarettes and a physical addiction to nicotine, young girls often continue to smoke well into adulthood. Ask participants about the kinds of pressures they face every day.
Many teenage girls use cigarettes to deal with the personal pressures outlined above.
Smoking is a tool to help them to deal with conflict and stress , feel more independent or look more mature . While boys smoke to look tough, girls smoke to make friends , to be part of a group or to give themselves an image . One of the reasons young girls most often give for smoking is that it helps them manage their weight . Social and environmental influences Parents, friends and other role models have a strong influence on what young girls think and how they act. That's why girls who live in homes or communities where smoking is a common and acceptable practice are more likely to use tobacco at a young age.