title: Portrayals of character smoking and drinking in Argentine-, Mexican- and US-produced films.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess film character portrayals of tobacco and alcohol use in US and nationally-produced films that were popular in Argentina and Mexico from 2004-2012. We performed a content analysis of these films (n=82 Argentine, 91 Mexican, and 908 US films, respectively). Chi-squares and t-tests were used to compare characteristics of characters who smoked or drank by country of movie production. Then data from all countries were pooled, and generalized estimating equation (GEE) models were used to determine independent correlates of character smoking or drinking. There were 480 major characters for Argentine-, 364 for Mexican-, and 4962 for US-produced films. Smoking prevalence among movie characters was similar to population smoking prevalence in Mexico (21%) and Argentina (26%), but about half in the US (11%), where movie product placements are restricted. Movie smoking declined over the period in all three countries. Movie alcohol prevalence was 40-50% across all countries and did not change with time. Demographic predictors of character smoking included: being male, 18 and older, having negative character valence. Movie smoking was not associated with lower SES. Predictors of character drinking included: being age 18 and older and positive character valence. Smoking and drinking predicted each other, illicit drug use, and higher scores for other risk behaviors. This suggests that policy development in Mexico and Argentina may be necessary to reduce the amount of character tobacco and alcohol use in films.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Human Performance, College of Charleston, 66 George St, Charleston, SC 29424, USA. Electronic address: kollathcattanocl@cofc.edu.
authors.forename: Christy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kollath-Cattano
authors.affiliation: Department of Tobacco Research, National Institute of Public Health (INSP), Universidad No. 655 Colonia Santa María Ahuacatitlán, Cerrada Los Pinos y Caminera, C.P. 62100 Cuernavaca, Mor., Mexico.
authors.forename: Erika N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Abad-Vivero
authors.affiliation: Center for Studies of the State and Society (CEDES), Sánchez de Bustamante 27, C1173AAA CABA, Argentina.
authors.forename: Raul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mejia
authors.affiliation: Department of Tobacco Research, National Institute of Public Health (INSP), Universidad No. 655 Colonia Santa María Ahuacatitlán, Cerrada Los Pinos y Caminera, C.P. 62100 Cuernavaca, Mor., Mexico.
authors.forename: Rosaura
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Perez-Hernandez
authors.affiliation: C. Everett Koop Institute, Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA.
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Sargent
authors.affiliation: Department of Tobacco Research, National Institute of Public Health (INSP), Universidad No. 655 Colonia Santa María Ahuacatitlán, Cerrada Los Pinos y Caminera, C.P. 62100 Cuernavaca, Mor., Mexico; Department of Health Promotion, Education & Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, 915 Greene St, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Thrasher
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D001118:Argentina; D006801:Humans; D008800:Mexico; D009040:Motion Pictures / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D015995:Prevalence; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States
keywords: Alcohol; Global health; Media; Movies; Tobacco