Who is most susceptible to movie smoking effects? Exploring the impacts of race and socio-economic status.
OBJECTIVE
This study assesses how race/ethnicity and socio-economic status modify the relationship between exposure to movie smoking and having tried smoking in adolescents.


METHODS
Data come from a cross-sectional telephone survey and were analyzed using logistic regression models. A respondent reporting ever having tried smoking was regressed on exposure to movie smoking, race, socio-economic status, the interactions of these variables and family and background characteristics.


METHODS
National sample of US adolescents.


METHODS
A total of 3653 respondents aged 13-18 years.


METHODS
Outcome was if subjects reported ever having tried smoking. Movie smoking exposure was assessed through respondents' reporting having watched a set of movie titles, which were coded for smoking instances.


RESULTS
The proportion having tried smoking was lower for blacks (32%) compared to Hispanics (41%) and whites (38%). The relationship between movie smoking and having tried smoking varied by race/ethnicity. Among whites and Hispanics exposure to movie smoking positively predicted smoking behavior, but movie smoking had no impact on blacks. Socio-economic status further modified the relation among whites; high socio-economic status white adolescents were more susceptible to movie smoking than low socio-economic status white adolescents.


CONCLUSIONS
Exposure to movie smoking is not experienced uniformly as a risk factor for having ever tried smoking among US adolescents. Whites and Hispanics are more likely to try smoking as a function of increased exposure to movie smoking. In addition, higher socio-economic status increases susceptibility to movie smoking among whites. Youth with fewer risk factors may be more influenced by media messages on smoking.
Cancer Control Research Program, Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03756, USA.
Samir
S
Soneji
Valerie A
VA
Lewis
Susanne
S
Tanski
James D
JD
Sargent
D000293:Adolescent; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007100:Imitative Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009040:Motion Pictures; D009042:Motivation; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors