Longitudinal study of viewing smoking in movies and initiation of smoking by children

(Disponible en anglais seulement.)

This longitudinal study assessed the influence of movie smoking exposure on smoking initiation among children ages 9-12. Results demonstrate that exposure to movie smoking predicted smoking initiation, and that overall, movie smoking may be responsible for at least one third of initiation among this age group.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1542/peds.2007-0051

Comment: I find it shocking that 80% of this exposure was from movies rated G, PG or PG-13. Aren't these ratings supposed to mean that the content is appropriate, and thus safe, for children?