• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.266-272
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• 2014

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between age at cigarette smoking initiation and smoking level among adolescent current smokers. Methods: In 2007, students from one or two classes of the 10th or 11th grade were randomly selected using the probability proportional to size sampling method. In total, 743 current smokers were included. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine the association between age at smoking initiation and smoking level as either frequent, daily, or heavy smokers. Results: The adjusted odds ratios for each smoking level were significantly higher for younger ages of smoking initiation than those for older ages of initiation were (p for trend <0.001). Compared with the students who started smoking in grades 10 to 11, the adjusted odds ratios for frequent, daily, and heavy smokers increased from 2.24 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.30 to 3.87) to 3.90 (95% CI, 2.02 to 7.56), from 1.56 (95% CI, 0.92 to 2.62) to 3.17 (95% CI, 1.70 to 5.92), and from 2.56 (95% CI, 1.21 to 5.42) to 5.67 (95% CI, 2.61 to 12.30) with younger ages of smoking initiation. Conclusions: Smoking frequency and amount were closely associated with age at smoking initiation. Therefore, smoking prevention programs should be initiated from the young adolescent period.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.17
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• pp.7547-7554
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• 2015

Background: The use of smokeless tobacco (SLT) among women is increasing in India, especially among those with limited education and resources. Preventing the initiation of SLT among women is critical since it has known negative consequences for oral and reproductive health. Most research on tobacco initiation in India focuses on adolescents. This paper addresses the unrecognized issues of post marital initiation among women of reproductive age, highlighting the importance of reproductive stages in women's tobacco initiation. The objective is to examine the correlates of SLT initiation among low income women in Mumbai from pre-marriage through early marriage, first pregnancy and beyond, using case examples to illustrate initiation during each of these stages. Materials and Methods: In 2011-2012, cross-sectional community level survey data were collected from a representative sample of 409 daily SLT-using married women aged 18-40 years in a low income community in Mumbai. Information on socio-demographics, initiation by reproductive stage, types of tobacco use, childhood exposure to tobacco, learning to use, and initiation influences and reasons were collected through a researcher-administered survey. Univariate and bivariate analysis assessed factors influencing initiation of SLT use by reproductive stage. In addition 42 narratives of tobacco use were collected from a purposive sample of pregnant and non-pregnant married women addressing the same questions in detail. Narratives were transcribed, translated, and coded for key concepts including initiation of tobacco use. Results: Thirty-two percent of women initiated SLT use before marriage, 44% initiated after marriage but before pregnancy, 18.1% initiated during their first pregnancy and the remainder started after their first pregnancy. Mean age of marriage among women in this study was 16 years. Younger women (i.e. age at time of the interview of less than 30 years) were 0.47 [95% CI (0.32, 0.87)] percent less likely to initiate after marriage than women aged more than 30 years. Women who got married before 18 years of age were 2.34 [95% CI (1.40, 3.93)] times more likely to initiate after marriage than their counterparts. Childhood exposure was a predictor for initiating SLT use prior to marriage but not after. Women reporting tooth and gum pain were 1.85 times more likely to initiate after marriage than their counterparts. Husband and neighbours were the most significant influences on post-marital initiation. Narratives highlighted differences in processes of initiation pre and post marriage and during pregnancy. Conclusions: Most tobacco prevention interventions are directed to adolescents in school. This study suggests that especially for low literate or illiterate women, school based interventions are ineffective. To be effective strategies to prevent SLT initiation must reach women in urban areas at or immediately after marriage and during their first pregnancy. Messages must negate culturally rooted beliefs about the health benefits of SLT in order to prevent initiation and onset of daily use.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.7 no.11
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• pp.507-517
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• 2020

The present research intends to examine the relationship between the Big Five personality traits and leadership initiations among the marketing executives in Delhi NCR (INDIA), and seeks to uncover the predictors of leadership initiations within personality traits. The data are collected through online survey method using different social media platforms. A sample of 233 (male =136 and female =97) marketing executive's responses were included. The data collected with the help of self-reported Big Five model inventory and leadership initiation test. The collected data were analyzed statistically by using descriptive statistics, correlation. and stepwise multiple regression analysis. The results revealed that the age of respondents inversely correlated with leadership initiation. Neuroticism revealed significant inverse correlation with leadership initiation, whereas significant positive correlations were found between extraversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness, and leadership initiations, while openness to experience revealed insignificant positive correlation with leadership initiation. Extraversion and conscientiousness appeared as the most dominant personality traits among marketing executives, irrespective of gender, that positively influenced leadership initiation and appeared as the predictor of leadership initiation. In male executives extraversion and age emerged as the predictors of leadership behavior, while in female executives extraversion and openness to experience personality traits appeared as the predictors of leadership initiation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.10-17
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the health behaviors and health status of adolescents in multicultural families according to gender. Methods: The study used raw data of the Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey performed in 2016. The 12th survey was conducted on 67,983 adolescents in 400 middle schools and 400 high schools. Among them, 759 adolescents were included in this study. Their data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, $x^2$-test, and Pearson's correlation. Results: There were significant differences in economic status, smoking experience, age of drinking onset, vigorous physical activity, soft drink consumption, toothbrushing after lunch, handwashing with soap before eating at school and eating at home and after coming home, BMI, subjective health status, stress, depression, and allergic rhinitis according to gender in multicultural adolescents. For boys, significant positive correlations were found between age and the age of drinking onset, between academic achievement and economic status, and between the age of smoking initiation and the age of drinking onset. However, there were significant negative correlations between economic status and stress and between subjective health status and stress. For girls, age had positive correlations with academic achievement, the age of drinking onset, BMI, and stress and economic status had positive correlations with academic achievement, the age of smoking initiation, and subjective health status. Also, the age of smoking initiation had positive correlations with the age of drinking onset and BMI. Lastly, there were negative correlations between age and economic status, between age and subjective health status, academic achievement and the age of smoking initiation, economic status and stress, and subjective health status and stress. Conclusion: The results of this study are expected to be useful as basic data for planning health interventions for boys and girls in multicultural families.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.1053-1060
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• 2003

The temperature variation of the concrete pavement in the early age significantly affects the initiation and propagation of its early age cracks. This implies that the measurement and analysis of early age temperature trend are necessary to examine the causes of early age cracks in the concrete pavement. In this study, it is investigated how the early age temperature trend in the concrete pavement affects the random crack initiation and behaviors of saw-cut joints using the actual construction site which is located at the KHC test road. During 72 hours after placing the concrete pavement, the ambient air temperature and temperatures at the top, middle, and bottom in the concrete pavement were measured and the random crack initiation in concrete slabs and early age behaviors in the joints were surveyed. The investigation results indicate that the first random crack was initiated at one of the slabs placed in the early morning which have higher temperature changes during early 72 hours. In addition, the joints that were saw-cut in the morning were cracked more rapidly than those saw-cut in the afternoon.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.132-136
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• 2020

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of gluten-free diet (GFD) on hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) concentrations among previously immunized pediatric celiac disease (CD) subjects. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated pediatric CD subjects in serological remission who were previously immunized for hepatitis B virus as infants. The temporal relationship between HBsAb concentration, the amount of time on a GFD, and age were evaluated. Results: Overall, 373 CD subjects were analyzed: 156 with HBsAb sampled prior to GFD initiation and 217 after initiation of a GFD and in serological remission. Median age at HBsAb concentration measurement for those before and after GFD initiation was 5.3 years (interquartile range [IQR], 3.1-9.2 years) and 7.6 years (IQR, 5.4-10.9 years), respectively (p<0.001). There was no sex difference between the groups. The median time of HBsAb measurement was 2 months (IQR, 0-5.7 months) before and 12.8 months (IQR, 5.3-30.3 months) after initiation of GFD. The HBsAb concentration was low in 79 (50.6%) and 121 (55.7%) subjects before and after GFD initiation, respectively (p=0.350). Age was inversely associated with low HBsAb concentrations. Neither being on a GFD nor sex was associated with low HBsAb concentrations. Conclusion: Adherence to a GFD does not affect HBsAb concentration in children with CD. Age is inversely associated with HBsAb concentration.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.1209-1214
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• 2016

Background: Cigarette smoking constitutes a major threat to the health and wellbeing of teenagers. While smoking has been on decline in the developed countries, the reverse is the case in developing countries. The aim of this study was to determine the age of initiation, determinants and prevalence of cigarette smoking among teenagers in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos state, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study among 475 teenagers selected by multistage sampling. A pre-tested, structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. The study was carried out in November, 2014. Results: Response rate was 84.6%. Mean age of the respondents was $16.4{\pm}1.65years$. Range and mean age of initiation of cigarette smoking were 7 to 17 years and $12.0{\pm}3.32years$ respectively. Teenagers who were above 15 years (OR:5.13, 95%CI: 0.87-30.26), males (OR:5.19, 95%CI: 1.57-17.18), married (OR:8.41, 95%CI: 1.04-63.35), had ${\leq}$primary school education(OR:4.31, 95%CI: 1.07-17.33), influenced by friends(OR:308.84, 95%CI:84.87-1123.81), and influenced by advertisements (OR:27.83, 95%CI: 3.92-197.64) were more likely to have initiated cigarette smoking. Furthermore, teenagers who were males (OR:12.77, 95%CI: 2.90-56.28), married (OR:19.24, 95%CI: 2.05-180.45), had ${\leq}$primary school education(OR:7.85, 95%CI: 2.37-26.01), influenced by friends(OR:28.56, 95%CI: 10.86-75.07), and influenced by advertisements (OR:5.95, 95%CI: 1.72-20.61) were more likely to be current cigarette smokers. In addition, 24.9% had initiated cigarette smoking while 14.7% were current smokers of cigarette. Conclusions: Mean age of initiation of cigarette smoking was $12.0{\pm}3.32years$. Determinants of cigarette smoking were age, gender, marital status, educational background, friends and advertisements. Life time prevalence of cigarette smoking was higher than prevalence of current cigarette smokers. Cigarette smoking reduction programs should take these factors into consideration.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.16-29
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• 2018

Introduction: We aimed to investigate the predictive factors and optimal age for response to herbal medicine treatment for height gain in children. Methods: This retrospective chart review included 61 children (age range, 5-16 years) treated for height gain between 2011 and 2015. A predictive model was established by multiple linear regression analysis. Dependent variables were defined by the differences in percentile before and after herbal medicine treatment. The optimal cutoff value of patient age was determined by receiver operating curve analysis. Results : The age of initiation of herbal medicine therapy (p = 0.012) and administration of Forsythiae fructus (p = 0.002) were significant variables for treatment response. The adjusted R2 value was 0.231. The mean ages of the responder and non-responder groups were significantly different (p = 0.023). The optimal cutoff value of age for predicting treatment response was 9.75 years. Treatment response was better among children below 9.75 years of age. Conclusions: Patient age and administration of Forsythiae fructus were identified as determinants of response to herbal medicine treatment. Treatment of rhinitis and initiation of height gain treatment at an early age are critical for better response. These findings will provide fundamental data for further research.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.6 no.2 s.20
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• pp.47-59
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• 2004

The temperature variation of concrete pavement at early-age significantly affects the initiation and propagation of its early-age cracks. This implies that the measurement and analysis of early age temperature trend are necessary to examine the causes of early age cracks in the concrete pavement. In this study, it is investigated how the early age temperature trend in concrete pavement affects the random crack initiation and behaviors of saw-cut joints using the actual construction site which is located at the KHC test road. During 72 hours after placing the concrete pavement, the ambient air temperature and temperatures at the top, middle, and bottom in concrete pavement were measured and the random crack initiation in concrete slabs and early age behaviors in the joints were surveyed. The investigation results indicate that the first random crack was initiated at one of the slabs placed in the early morning which have higher temperature changes during early 72 hours. The movement of slab was influenced by the early-age crack in the joint. It suggested that the different occurrence time of the cracks in the joint had an influence on the behavior of the cracks. Besides, the slab constructed In the morning had higher possibility of crack initiation than that in the afternoon. The rarely occurred cracks had bigger gap than other cracks.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.39-56
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• 2006

Objectives: To investigate the drinking and smoking habits among the community residents of a city. Methods: We surveyed 1.973 adults from October 1, 2005 to November 16, 2005. The data collected on alcohol drinking habits involved frequency, age of initiation, amount of alcohol consumed, number of attempts to reduce consumption and reasons for reducing it. The data collected on smoking habits involved amount, age of initiation, duration, situations, and the number of attempts to quit smoking. These were analyzed with frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, $x^2$-test, t-test and ANOVA. Results: The rate of drinking was 67.4%; 83.1% among males, and 52.5%among females. Among all drinkers, the largest group (29.8%) drank once or twice a week. The mean age of initiation was 21.2 years; 19.9 among males, and 22.8 among females. The average consumed amount was 5.8 glasses; males consumed 7.4 glasses, and females 3.3 glasses. The consumption was the highest among those in fifties. The rate of attempts to reduce drinking was 33.4%, mainly for health reasons. The rate of smoking was 38.0%; 72.4% among males, and 5.5% among females. Among all smokers, the largest group (44.1%) smoked between 11 and 20 cigarettes per day. The mean of the age of initiation was 20.7 years; 20.3 among males, 25.6 among females. The mean smoking duration was 20.9 years; 21.3 years among males, and 16.2 years among females. The main reason for the initial attempt was curiosity. The most common situation for smoking was after dinner. The rate of attempts to quit smoking was 77.1%, mainly out of concern for one's health. Alcohol consumption among smokers was higher than among any other group of nonsmokers. Also, the age of drinking initiation among smokers was lower than among any other group of nonsmokers. Conclusion: This study highlighted the actual data on drinking and smoking habits among community residents. The study can be utilized for creating programs aiming at reducing the consumption of alcohol and tobacco or stopping it altogether. Therefore, it is now possible to assess the indicators for interventions in each population group. Finally, the groups of heavy drinkers and smokers are expected to be given priority for intervention program.