Impact of family functioning and peer pressure on nicotine dependence: a cross-sectional study among medical students in South Punjab, Pakistan

Background: Nicotine addiction among medical students is concerning, as these future healthcare providers are expected to model healthy lifestyle choices. While family and peer influences on smoking are well established globally, they remain underexplored in Punjab's cultural setting. This study aims to investigate the impact of family functioning and peer pressure on nicotine dependence among medical students in South Punjab. Materials and methods: -test, and two-way ANOVA using SPSS version 26. Results: = 0.028). Conclusion: There is a need for targeted smoking cessation and gender-focused interventions among medical students, considering the interplay of family dysfunction and peer pressure. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and inform effective interventions.