[Characteristics present in secondary school students who do not smoke and who have no intention to smoke].

OBJECTIVE: To know the variables present in primary and secondary school students who do not smoke or intend to smoke from a positive health model.

METHODS: Cross-sectional study with 482 students from Andalusia and Catalonia using a validated questionnaire (ESFA and PASE project). Binary logistic regression analysis was performed.

RESULTS: Those who did not intend to smoke viewed smoking unfavourably and had high self-efficacy (p <0.001). In non-consumers, the most associated variables were attitude, social model (p <0.001), and self-efficacy (p =0.005).

CONCLUSIONS: The results show motivational factors present in students who do not smoke and do not intend to do so. Attitude and self-efficacy are strongly associated with intention and behaviour. This information might be useful for developing positive health promotion strategies from a salutogenesis approach.