Smoking-Related Beliefs and Susceptibility Among United States Youth Nonsmokers.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the study was to examine racial/ethnic disparities in smoking beliefs and susceptibility in a nationally representative sample of United States youth nonsmokers (N = 21,931).


METHODS
Weighted regression models were used to examine smoking-related beliefs and susceptibility by race/ethnicity adjusting for demographics, exposure to pro-tobacco advertising and promotions, parental guidance against tobacco use, and peer norms.


RESULTS
Compared with non-Hispanic whites, racial/ethnic minority youth endorsed pro-smoking beliefs and were susceptible to smoking. Non-Hispanic blacks, non-Hispanic Asians, and Hispanics embraced social benefits of smoking (all p < .05). Hispanics had lower perceptions of tobacco-related risks (adjusted odds ratio = .87) and were more susceptible to smoking (adjusted odds ratio = 1.56). Disparities in smoking beliefs and susceptibility persisted between minority and non-Hispanic white youth after adjusting for exposure to pro-tobacco advertising and promotions, parental guidance against tobacco use, and peer norms.


CONCLUSIONS
Smoking-related beliefs and susceptibility varied by race/ethnicity among youth nonsmokers after accounting for known predictors of youth smoking.
Division of Intramural Research, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
Sherine
S
El-Toukhy
Division of Intramural Research, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland. Electronic address: Kelvin.choi@nih.gov.
Kelvin
K
Choi
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012907:Smoking / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D012938:Social Perception; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
Adolescents; Racial/ethnic disparities; Smoking susceptibility; Smoking-related beliefs