Media and secondhand smoke exposure: results from a national survey.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether associations between anti-secondhand smoke (SHS) media, social cognitions about SHS, and home restrictions on smoking follow patterns observed in smoking behavior.


METHODS
Based on a nationally representative sample of 2348 US adults drawn from the American Legacy Foundation's American Smoking and Health Survey, we tested relationships among scales of anti-SHS media, social cognitions, and home restrictions.


RESULTS
We found anti-SHS media and SHS cognitions, as well as social cognitions and home restrictions, to be significantly associated. Social cognitions mediated the relationship between anti-SHS media and home restrictions.


CONCLUSIONS
Previously observed relationships between media, social cognitions, and smoking also exist for SHS. Anti-SHS media campaigns to increase home restrictions may help to reduce SHS exposure.
Evans
W Douglas
WD
American Legacy Foundation, Washington, DC, USA. devans@rti.org
Crankshaw
Erik
E
Nimsch
Christian
C
Morgan-Lopez
Antonio
A
Farrelly
Matthew C
MC
Allen
Jane
J
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008402:Mass Media; D008875:Middle Aged; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D040241:Social Marketing; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution