The influence of subjective social status on vulnerability to postpartum smoking among young pregnant women.
OBJECTIVE
Associations between subjective social status, a subjective measure of socioeconomic status, and predictors of risk for postpartum smoking were examined among 123 pregnant women (aged 18-24 years) who stopped smoking because of pregnancy. The goal was to identify how subjective social status might influence the risk for postpartum smoking and to elucidate targets for intervention.


METHODS
We used multiple regression equations to examine the predictive relations between subjective social status and tobacco dependence, self-rated likelihood of postpartum smoking, confidence, temptations, positive and negative affect, depression, stress, and social support. Adjusted analyses were also conducted with control for race/ethnicity, education, income, and whether participant had a partner or not (partner status).


RESULTS
In unadjusted and adjusted analyses, subjective social status predicted tobacco dependence, likelihood of postpartum smoking, confidence, temptations, positive affect, negative affect, and social support. Adjusted analyses predicting depression and stress approached significance.


CONCLUSIONS
Among young pregnant women who quit smoking because of pregnancy, low subjective social status was associated with a constellation of characteristics indicative of increased vulnerability to postpartum smoking. Subjective social status provided unique information on risk for postpartum smoking over and above the effects of race/ethnicity, objective socioeconomic status, and partner status.
Reitzel
Lorraine R
LR
Department of Health Disparities Research, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Houston, TX 77030-4009, USA. lrreitze@mdanderson.org
Vidrine
Jennifer I
JI
Li
Yisheng
Y
Mullen
Patricia D
PD
Velasquez
Mary M
MM
Cinciripini
Paul M
PM
Cofta-Woerpel
Ludmila
L
Greisinger
Anthony
A
Wetter
David W
DW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D009042:Motivation; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012008:Recurrence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D012923:Social Class; D012944:Social Support; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology