Parents’ Smoking is the Cause of Poor Performance of Children in School

Scientists from Hong Kong have discovered a curious link between parents’ smoking and school performance of children, the PLOS One journal writes.

Studies conducted by specialists have shown that the abuse of tobacco smoke by parents have a negative effect on a child’s ability to perceive information.

For example, interviewing 23,000 students between the ages of 11 and 20, scientists discovered the following: over 30% of those who lived with at least a smoking parent identified their grade as “low”. 23% among those whose homes were lit with cigarette for at least five days a week said that their performance is worse compared with their classmates or fellow students.

However, among a group of children and adolescents whose parents smoked fewer, only 20% of respondents received bad grades. Just 17% of children of non-smoking parents complained of their grades.

Consequently, the researchers concluded that passive smoking increases the risk of bad grades from 14 to 28%. They explain this by the fact that toxic substances contained in tobacco can drastically affect the work of the child’s brain. What does this mean? That’s right, do not smoke in the presence of a child, or even better give up smoking!

Source of the image: Photl.