Demographic and psychosocial characteristics of smokers and nonsmokers in low-socioeconomic status rural Appalachian 2-parent families in Southern West Virginia.
BACKGROUND
Rural Appalachian women living in poverty have a high prevalence of prenatal smoking; yet, few studies have examined this issue.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the demographic and psychosocial characteristics of prenatal smokers and nonsmokers in low-socioeconomic status, rural Appalachian 2-parent families.


METHODS
During an 18-month period, two thirds of eligible low-socioeconomic status prenatal patients were recruited for a longitudinal study from a community health clinic in a rural West Virginia county. Data for the present report are from 92 women with a husband/partner (37 smokers and 55 nonsmokers) who completed a prenatal interview in the last trimester of pregnancy. This interview included demographics, personality traits, self-esteem problems, social support, and marital/partner relationship.


RESULTS
Compared to nonsmokers, prenatal smokers were less likely to have completed high school, less extroverted, and also had lower self-esteem, less intimate support, and more negative marital relationship.


CONCLUSIONS
High school graduation and variables related to positive personality and supportive relationships distinguished smokers from nonsmokers. The causal relationship between these variables and prenatal smoking requires more work in larger and varied populations, and this study provides some direction for ongoing longitudinal investigation.
Song
Hana
H
Child Psychology and Education, Sungkyunkwan University and Center for Rural Health, Marshall University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Fish
Margaret
M
D000328:Adult; D001061:Appalachian Region / Q000453:epidemiology; D004522:Educational Status; D005120:Extraversion, Psychological; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007439:Introversion, Psychological; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D011204:Poverty Areas; D011247:Pregnancy; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012649:Self Concept; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012923:Social Class; D012944:Social Support; D014903:West Virginia / Q000453:epidemiology