Ethnic similarities and differences in reasons for smoking.
We examined reasons for smoking among Black and White smokers. We hypothesized that Blacks would be more likely than Whites to cite tension reduction and less likely to cite weight control as a reason for smoking. Black (n = 100) and White (n = 100) female smokers completed the Reasons for Smoking Scale and the Smoking Situations Questionnaire. Regardless of treatment status, Blacks and Whites differed in their reasons for smoking [F(6,191) = 2.24; p < .05]. Blacks, as compared to Whites, less strongly endorsed weight concern as a reason for smoking [F(1,198) = 6.10; p < .05]. Results failed to reveal differences in tension reduction, stimulation, handling, relaxation, addiction, and habit as a function of ethnicity. Results suggest that Blacks and Whites exhibit more similarity than difference in their reasons for smoking.
Cancer Research Center of Hawai'i, University of Hawai'i-Manoa, 1960 East-West Road, C-105, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA. lsanchez@crch.hawaii.edu
Lisa
L
Sánchez-Johnsen
Jasjit S
JS
Ahluwalia
Marian
M
Fitzgibbon
Bonnie J
BJ
Spring
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D044383:Black People / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009042:Motivation; D012907:Smoking / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology*