Prevalence and sociobehavioral correlates of tobacco use among Hispanic children: the Tobacco Resistance Activity Program.
To examine tobacco use patterns and its sociobehavioral correlates among Hispanic in-school youth, a tobacco use and knowledge survey was administered to 660 children from fourth through sixth grade classes, of which 69% (n = 453) were of Hispanic origin. Male Hispanics were more exposed to previous tobacco use (38% vs. 20%, p < .01), reported more current smoking, had more smoking friends, received more cigarette offers, and wanted to try a cigarette compared to females (all p < .05). Also, more previous alcohol use was noted in the previous tobacco users, indicating its potential as a "gateway drug." From multivariate analyses, being offered cigarettes was the strongest environmental indicator of previous tobacco usage, followed by having adult smokers in the house, smoking friends, (all p < .01), and being around other smoking youth (p < .05). This study offers additional knowledge about factors that may cause Hispanic youth to initiate smoking, and suggests the need to address peer and social influences in school-based substance abuse programs.
Morris
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Dept. of Health and Physical Education, California Polytechnic University, Pomona 91768.
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Bassin
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Savaglio
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Wong
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D016730:Program Development; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology