A "trend reversal"? More and more young people find that smoking makes them "more comfortable in a group"

Although the prevalence of smoking has declined significantly in France since the 1970s, a section of the population, particularly young people, still sees it as socially acceptable behavior, according to a survey, highlighting the need to "adapt efforts to denormalize tobacco."

As World No Tobacco Day approaches on May 31, Santé publique France (SpF) is publishing this Tuesday, May 27 , a study devoted to "Perceptions of smoking among 18-75 year-olds" , based on a telephone survey carried out in 2022, the responses to which were compared with data from several of the organization's barometers, dating back to 2005.

It emerged that in 2022, two-thirds of the 3,229 people surveyed believed that "society disapproves of smoking" and that more than one in two (52.6%) thought that at present "you are less well accepted when you are a smoker".

Nearly nine out of ten smokers (86.3%) agreed with the statement: "People who matter to you think you shouldn't smoke."

This development appears to reflect "a reduction in social norms favorable to smoking" between 2005 and 2022 in mainland France, which will need to be confirmed" in future surveys, write the authors of the study.

However, "certain signs seem to indicate a recent reversal of the trend," they note.

Thus, in 2022, "27.3% of people agree with the statement 'smoking makes you feel more comfortable in a group,' compared to 21.7% in 2017." This figure was 37.1% in 2005. This proportion fell from 2005 to 2010, then stabilized from 2010 to 2017, before rising again from 2017 to 2022.

Also, "younger individuals with lower levels of education are more likely to perceive smoking as socially acceptable behavior": only 29% of 18-34 year-olds believe that "you are less well accepted when you are a smoker", compared to 53% of 35-54 year-olds and 70% of 55-75 year-olds, according to the survey.

The survey also reveals that the idea that "society disapproves of smoking" is associated with a higher education level than a baccalaureate and an individual income of more than 1,800 euros per month.

These variations in perceptions according to sociodemographic characteristics reflect a persistence of social inequalities linked to smoking which must be taken into account to better target prevention campaigns and interventions, concludes SpF.