Development and validation of a multidimensional measure of stress among African American light smokers.
The complete Multidimensional Measure of Stress (MMOS) measure may be made available to interested persons by contacting the corresponding author.


BACKGROUND
Smoking rates are higher among inner-city and lower-income African Americans, perhaps due to psychosocial barriers to cessation efforts, including stress.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the development of the MMOS and examine the psychometric properties of the MMOS among African American light smokers.


METHODS
Secondary analysis of data generated from a 2x2 randomized clinical trial, designed to examine the efficacy of nicotine replacement and cessation counseling among 755 African American light smokers.


RESULTS
Fourteen items were included in the final MMOS (alpha = .83). An exploratory factor analysis identified 3 factors: interpersonal (alpha = .80), safety (alpha = .70), and financial (alpha = .75). The MMOS was significantly correlated with the Perceived Stress scale (r = 0.49, p < .001) and was associated with several demographic, psychosocial, and tobacco-related variables.


CONCLUSIONS
The MMOS appears to be a valid measure of stress among African American light smokers enrolled in a cessation trial.
Department of Communication, Center for Communication and Health Issues, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick 08901, USA. jrwarren@rutgers.edu
Jennifer R
JR
Warren
Janet L
JL
Thomas
Kolawole S
KS
Okuyemi
Bruce
B
Lindgren
Jasjit S
JS
Ahluwalia
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological