title: Unexpected benefits: pathways from smoking restrictions in the home to psychological well-being and distress among urban Black and Puerto Rican Americans.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study examined the pathways from smoking policies in the home (no ban, partial ban, and total ban on smoking) to psychological well-being (e.g., self-esteem) and psychological symptoms (e.g., depressive symptoms) as mediated by a healthy lifestyle (engaging in exercise, eating healthful foods, and sleeping enough) and cigarette smoking among a sample of urban Black and Puerto Rican Americans.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaire data were collected from 816 participants (mean age = 32 years). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to examine the pathways of restrictions on smoking in the home to a healthy lifestyle, cigarette smoking, psychological well-being, and psychological distress.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The SEM showed mediational pathways linking higher levels of restrictions on smoking in the home with a healthy lifestyle, which in turn was related negatively to psychological distress and positively to psychological well-being. Higher levels of restrictions on smoking in the home were also related inversely to cigarette smoking, which was related positively to psychological distress and negatively to psychological well-being.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings show that higher levels of restrictions on smoking in the home are associated with a healthier lifestyle and less cigarette smoking, which in turn are associated with better psychological functioning. Greater restrictions on smoking in the home may thus support positive lifestyle choices, including exercise and nutrition, as well as psychological functioning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, 215 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA. kerstin.pahl@nyumc.org
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pahl
authors.forename: Judith S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Brook
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koppel
authors.forename: Jung Yeon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style / Q000208:ethnology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011647:Puerto Rico / Q000208:ethnology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000208:ethnology; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution