Ethnic differences in adolescent smoking prevalence in California: are multi-ethnic youth at higher risk?

Abstract

Objective-Although ethnic diVerences in adolescent smoking have been well documented, smoking among multiethnic adolescents has received little research attention. This study examined smoking prevalence and tobacco related psychosocial risk factors among multiethnic adolescents in California, as compared with white, African American, Asian American, and Hispanic adolescents. Design-This study used a cross sectional design. Data were obtained from the independent evaluation of the California Tobacco Control, Prevention, and Education Program. Setting-Students completed a paperand-pencil survey in their classrooms. Subjects-Data were collected from a stratified random sample of 5072 eighth grade students (age 13-14 years) in California during the 1996-97 school year. The data were weighted by school enrollment in analyses to make the estimates representative of the population of California students attending public schools. Main outcome measures-Outcome variables included self reported smoking prevalence, susceptibility to smoking, access to tobacco, and related attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours. Ethnicity was assessed with a self reported, "check all that apply" question. Results-Results indicated that multiethnic adolescents were at higher risk than single-ethnic adolescents on several variables, including 30 day cigarette smoking prevalence, lifetime smokeless tobacco use, buying cigarettes, receiving cigarette oVers, and expected friends' reaction if the respondent smoked. For several other variables (lifetime cigarette smoking prevalence, susceptibility to smoking, and number of friends who smoked), Hispanic adolescents were at higher risk than all other ethnic groups including multi-ethnic adolescents. Although susceptibility to smoking was highest among Hispanics, multi-ethnic adolescents scored significantly higher on susceptibility than the three other single-ethnic groups. Conclusions-Multi-ethnicadolescents may be at increased risk for smoking and may have easier access to cigarettes. Culturally targeted smoking prevention interventions for adolescents should address the unique social challenges faced by multi-ethnic adolescents that may increase their risk for smoking.(Tobacco Control 2000;9(Suppl II):ii9-ii14)

Mediating Influences of Negative Affect and Risk Perception on the Relationship Between Sensation Seeking and Adolescent Cigarette Smoking

“…Finally, due to small cell sizes, we chose to group African American, American Indian, and multiethnic participants together. Given that youth smoking rates tend to be lower than the general population in African Americans (Johnston, O'Malley, Bachman, & Schulenberg, 2010) but higher in American Indians (Wallace et al, 2003) and multiethnic youth (Unger, Palmer, Dent, Rohrbach, & Johnson, 2000), this group may have been somewhat heterogeneous and less representative of those individual groups.…”

California adolescents offer a glimpse into the future of multi-ethnicity

“…4 This percentage was substantially larger than the 1% to 2% of adults in the 1997 National Health Interview Survey who classified themselves as multiethnic. 2 Perhaps more important, we found that these multiethnic adolescents were at higher risk of smoking than were single-ethnic adolescents.…”

“…3,4 Because California is more ethnically diverse than other US states, and because younger generations contain more multiethnic individuals than do older generations, these data provided an excellent opportunity to examine the health implications of multiethnicity and to glimpse the potential future of multiethnicity in the United States.…”

“…2,3 Other studies suggest that the level of knowledge of postcoital contraception among potential users is low and that this is the chief barrier to its use. 4-6 I performed a voluntary, anonymous survey to determine the potential of emergency contraceptive pills to decrease the need for abortion.…”

Cognition at risk: Gestalt/feature-intensive processing and cigarette smoking in college students

“…Yet nearly one-quarter of American adults engage in this destructive and addictive habit (e.g., Schmitz, Jarvik, & Schneider, 1997). The problem is particularly pervasive in members of some minority groups, especially multi-ethnic individuals (Unger et al, 2000), and in individuals of more limited education (e.g., Leischow, RangerMoore, and Lawrence, 2000). White male and female adolescents initiate smoking more Current Psychology: Developmental 9 Learning ~ Personality 9 Social.…”