title: Light versus heavy smoking among African American men and women.
abstract: The majority of smoking cessation research has focused on heavy smokers. African Americans (AA) are less likely than the general population to be heavy smokers. Thus, little is known about the smoking and psychosocial characteristics of lighter AA smokers. The present study compared the baseline demographic, smoking, and psychosocial characteristics of light (5-10 cigarettes per day; n=86) and moderate to heavy (>10 cigarettes per day; n=286) AA smokers enrolled in a smoking cessation clinical trial. Results indicated no differences between groups on demographic variables. However, light smokers (LS) were less dependent on smoking, reported more previous quit attempts, and had higher self-efficacy to quit than moderate to heavy smokers (MHS). On a measure of withdrawal, LS reported less pre-quit craving and less difficulty concentrating than MHS. In addition, LS reported lower perceived stress, fewer symptoms of depression, and greater positive affect than AA MHS. These findings highlight important similarities and differences between AA LS and MHS, and have implications for the treatment of AA smokers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Disparities Research, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77230, USA. msbusine@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Businelle
authors.forename: Darla E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Kendzor
authors.forename: Tracy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Costello
authors.forename: Ludmila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cofta-Woerpel
authors.forename: Yisheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Mazas
authors.forename: Jennifer Irvin
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Vidrine
authors.forename: Lorraine R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Reitzel
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Cinciripini
authors.forename: Jasjit S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Ahluwalia
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Wetter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012907:Smoking / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000208:ethnology; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult