Cultural/interpersonal values and smoking in an ethnically diverse sample of Southern California adolescents.
In ethnically diverse school contexts, values from multiple cultures might influence adolescents' attitudes and behaviors. This study developed scales to assess cultural values among Southern California 6'-grade adolescents (N=2281) and evaluated the associations between values and smoking. The scales assessed values salient in many Hispanic and Asian cultures: Respect for Adults (e.g., filial piety, respeto), Interpersonal Harmony (e.g., saving face, simpatia), and Differentiated Gender Roles (e.g., machismo). In cross-sectional and one-year longitudinal models, Respect for Adults and Interpersonal Harmony were associated with a lower risk of lifetime smoking. The associations were significant even after controlling for demographic characteristics, friends' smoking, and parents' smoking, indicating that values influence adolescents' behavior over and above the effects of modeling and peer influence. Increased understanding of adolescents' values could inform the creation of smoking prevention programs for ethnically diverse adolescents.
Unger
Jennifer B
JB
University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Transdisciplinary Tobacco Use Research Center, USA.
Shakib
Sohaila
S
Gallaher
Peggy
P
Ritt-Olson
Anamara
A
Mouttapa
Michele
M
Palmer
Paula H
PH
Johnson
C Anderson
CA
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D003142:Communication; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000208:ethnology*; D012945:Social Values; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires