title: Parental perspectives on antismoking discussions with adolescents in rural African American households, May 2004-January 2005.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to use qualitative interviews to examine antismoking discussions African American parents and adult family members have with adolescent children. This study is one of the first studies to examine the content of family discussions about not smoking among rural African American families from the perspective of parents and extended family members.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interview topics included discussions with their children, how their children reacted to those discussions, expected and actual consequences for their children trying a cigarette, and perspectives on how best to keep their children from becoming cigarette smokers. A total of 72 African American households participated in the overall study, and 112 people were interviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Major themes that emerged included discussing the negative health and economic aspects of smoking and the influence of peer pressure. Likely consequences for trying a cigarette included talking to the child about the dangers of smoking and taking away privileges. Making cigarettes less accessible, continued discussions, leading by example, and not smoking around children were suggested as strategies to keep children from smoking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides insight into antismoking socialization efforts in rural African American families and confirms that African American families are actively engaged in keeping their children from smoking.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. sbutl03@sph.emory.edu
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.forename: Michelle Crozier
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kegler
authors.forename: Cam
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Escoffery
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D003142:Communication; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016487:Parenting / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention