Factors Influencing Smoking Initiation Among Adolescents at Ar-Ridho Islamic Boarding School

Abstract

Background: Smoking initiation during adolescence remains a major public health concern because early exposure to tobacco increases the risk of nicotine dependence and long-term health complications. Identifying the factors that encourage adolescents to smoke for the first time is essential for developing effective prevention strategies, particularly in educational settings such as Islamic boarding schools. Methods: This study employed a quantitative descriptive cross-sectional design involving 63 adolescent students at Ar-Ridho Islamic Boarding School, Depok, in May 2026. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire to identify respondents' primary reasons for smoking initiation. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed to summarize the frequency and percentage distribution of each influencing factor. Results and Discussion: The findings revealed that peer influence was the most dominant reason for smoking initiation, reported by 48 respondents (76.2%), followed by other influencing factors reported by 14 respondents (22.2%), while exposure to cigarette advertisements accounted for only 1 respondent (1.6%). These findings indicate that social interaction with peers plays a substantially greater role in smoking initiation than media exposure. Adolescents are more likely to adopt smoking behavior to gain social acceptance, conform to group norms, or strengthen interpersonal relationships within their peer groups. The limited contribution of advertising suggests that interpersonal social environments exert a stronger influence than external promotional factors in this population. Conclusions and Suggestions: Peer influence is the primary factor associated with smoking initiation among adolescents at Ar-Ridho Islamic Boarding School, Depok. School administrators, parents, and public health professionals should strengthen peer-based health promotion programs, tobacco education, and social skills interventions to improve adolescents' resistance to negative peer pressure. Future studies are recommended to examine additional psychosocial and family-related determinants using larger and more diverse samples to provide a broader understanding of adolescent smoking initiation.