Smoking norms in small social groups and national development in smoking habits among Danes

Decrease in prevalence of Danish smokers is probably connected to increased awareness among Danes of the fact that smoking is hazardous to health.
The figures indicate that youth smoking behaviour is probably not influenced significantly by their parents smoking behaviour.
The analysis further shows that smoking behaviour among youth is contagious between members in small groups in the same way that an infectious disease is.
This recognition manifests itself in behavioural change probably through group processes and norm development on a micro level.
When planning smoking prevention programmes it is therefore essential to include health educational practice which takes into consideration the significant influence of peers and behavioural norms in small social groups.