Scientists: Popular Students More Likely to Smoke

Popular students in middle school and high school are more likely to smoke, according to four studies conducted over a 10-year period. Students from the United States and Mexico participated in the studies. But the lead author of the research at the University of Southern California says these findings can be applied to other countries as well.

Tom Valente, a professor of preventative medicine at the University of Southern California, says popular students are more likely to smoke and become smokers earlier than students who are less popular. “You know being popular comes with a price, and that price is to make sure you retain that position of popularity," he said.