Changes in cigarette smoking initiation, cessation, and relapse among U.S. adults: a comparison of two longitudinal samples

Abstract

BackgroundThe tobacco epidemic in the U.S. has matured in the past decade. However, due to rapidly changing social policy and commercial environments, tailored prevention and interventions are needed to support further reduction in smoking.MethodsUsing Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey (TUS-CPS) 2002–2003 and 2010–2011 longitudinal cohorts, five smoking states are defined including daily-heavy, daily-light, non-daily, former and non-smoker. We quantified the changes between smoking states for the two longitudinal cohorts, and used a series of multivariable logistic regression models to examine the association of socio-demographic attributes and initial smoking states on smoking initiation, cessation, and relapse between waves within each cohort.ResultsThe prevalence of adult heavy smoking decreased from 9.9% (95% CI: 9.6%, 10.2%) in 2002 to 7.1% (95% CI: 6.9%, 7.4%) in 2010. Non-daily smokers were less likely to quit in the 2010–2011 cohort than the 2002–2003 cohort (37.0% vs. 44.9%). Gender, age group, smoker type, race and marital status exhibit similar patterns in terms of their association to the odds of initiation, cessation and relapse between the two cohorts, while education groups showed some inconsistent results between the two cohorts regarding the odds of cessation.ConclusionsTransitions between smoking states are complex and increasingly unstable, requiring a holistic, population-based perspective to understand the stocks and flows that ultimately dictate the public health impact of cigarette smoking behavior. This knowledge helps to identify groups in need of increased tobacco control prevention and intervention efforts.

Correlates of tobacco product reuptake and relapse among youth and adults in the USA: findings from the PATH Study Waves 1–3 (2013–2016)

“…53 54 In addition, this study expanded previous research findings to include sexual orientation which was a significant predictor (adults only) of tobacco reuptake, with sexual minorities (identifying as gay/lesbian or bisexual) having higher odds of reuptake to tobacco products except smokeless tobacco than those who identified as straight/ heterosexual. In contrast to Yi et al, 9 who found no racial/ ethnic differences in reuptake rates, we found a significant race/ ethnicity effect in adults such that previous non-Hispanic black users were more likely to reuptake any tobacco, specifically all combusted tobacco products, than previous non-Hispanic white users were. However, among youth, racial/ethnic minorities were less likely to reuptake any tobacco use, but race/ethnicity had no significant effect across individual products.…”

Predictors and reasons for starting and sustaining quit attempts in a national cohort of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander smokers

“…More non-daily smokers (who smoked at least weekly) were able to sustain abstinence than daily smokers, as in longitudinal studies in other populations [28,30]. In some longitudinal studies (including an American Indian study), this difference was only apparent between non-daily and heavier daily smokers [31][32][33]. In contrast, we found no such difference in making quit attempts, even though we found non-daily smokers were more likely to have made a quit attempt in the year before the baseline survey, and non-daily smokers were more likely to make a quit attempt between the first two waves of the ITC Four Country study [12,28].…”

Beyond education and income: Identifying novel socioeconomic correlates of cigarette use in U.S. young adults

“…Recent studies highlight that smoking onset is highest in young adults, compared to adolescent (Thompson et al, 2017) and older adult populations (Yi et al, 2017). Data from the 2002–2003 and 2010–2011 cohort samples of the Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey show that the strongest risk factor for cigarette smoking initiation in adults over a one-year follow-up period is having less than a high school education (Yi et al, 2017).…”

“…Data from the 2002–2003 and 2010–2011 cohort samples of the Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey show that the strongest risk factor for cigarette smoking initiation in adults over a one-year follow-up period is having less than a high school education (Yi et al, 2017). Socioeconomic status also influences continued cigarette smoking beyond initiation: in 2003, smoking prevalence among non-college educated young adults aged 18–34 was twice as high as smoking prevalence among college-educated young adults (Green et al, 2007).…”

“…Population studies in the U.S. indicate that younger age (18–29) and lower education independently predict lower cessation and higher relapse to smoking (Yi et al, 2017). Lower cessation in those of lower socioeconomic status persists when examining young adults alone.…”