title: Unemployment Rate, Smoking in China: Are They Related?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies on the relationship between unemployment rate and smoking have yielded mixed results. The issue in China has not been studied. This study aims to examine the influence of unemployment rate on smoking in China.
  
  
  METHODS
  Logit model and two-stage least squares (2SLS) estimation were used to estimate the effects. Estimations were done for 4585 individual over 45 using data from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study conducted in Zhejiang and Gansu provinces in 2008 and 2012.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A percent increase in the unemployment rate resulted in the increase in the likelihood of smoking by a combined 9.1 percent for those who smoked including a 2.9% increase for those who smoked 1-10 cigarettes per day; a 2.8% increase for those who smoked 11-20 cigarettes per day; and a 3.4% increase for those who smoked 20 cigarettes or more per day. The effects were stronger for those who were employed. Non-drinkers were more likely to engage in smoking with increased unemployment rate. 2SLS estimation revealed the same association.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The unemployment rate was positively associated with smoking behavior. Smoking control and intervention strategies should focus on both the individual's characteristics and the physical environment in which unemployment rate tend to rise.
authors.affiliation: School of Business, Dalian University of Technology, Panjin 124221, China. wangqing1984@126.com.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV 89103, USA. jay.shen@unlv.edu.
authors.forename: Jay J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Care Administration, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV 89103, USA. chris.cochran@unlv.edu.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cochran
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002681:China; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012179:Retirement / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014478:Unemployment / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: China; current smoker; number of cigarettes smoked daily; unemployment rate