title: Differences between Latino daily light and heavier smokers in smoking attitudes, risk perceptions, and smoking cessation outcome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Daily light smoking is increasing and disproportionately represented among Latinos. The current study examines differences in smoking attitudes, psychosocial characteristics, risk perceptions, and cessation rates between Latino daily light (3-9 cigarettes/day) and heavier smokers (≥ 10 cigarettes/day).
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (N = 131; M(age) = 36.8, 73.3% female, 53.1% light smokers) were enrolled in a study focused on motivating smokers to quit. Cessation was biochemically verified at 2 and 3 months after end of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Heavier smoking was more prevalent among males (65.7%) and those from Puerto Rico (69.0%). Compared with heavier smokers, light smokers were less nicotine dependent (p < .001), reported fewer pros of smoking (p ≤ .001), less perceived stress (p ≤ .001), had fewer friends who smoked (p ≤ .005), were more likely to live in a household with an indoor smoking ban (p ≤ .001), and self-reported better health (p < .05). Regarding risk perceptions, Latino light smokers reported less perceived vulnerability for the health effects from smoking on their child's health (p < .05). There were no significant differences in smoking cessation rates between daily light and heavier smokers at either 2- or 3-month follow-up. Belief that quitting would improve "their own health," however, significantly predicted smoking cessation at both 2- and 3-month follow-up, but only among heavier smokers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Latino light smokers do not seem to be more likely to quit smoking than Latinos who smoke at heavier rates. Differences between Latino light and heavier smokers in demographics, smoking attitudes, and psychosocial factors may need to be considered when developing cessation programs and mass media campaigns. Future research should continue to explore whether Latino light smokers need different or more targeted treatments.
authors.affiliation: Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA. rashelle.hayes@umassmed.edu
authors.forename: Rashelle B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: Belinda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Borrelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011647:Puerto Rico; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology*; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome