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Socioeconomic Distinction, Cultural Tastes, and Cigarette Smoking *
Author(s) -
Pampel Fred C.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
social science quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.482
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1540-6237
pISSN - 0038-4941
DOI - 10.1111/j.0038-4941.2006.00366.x
Subject(s) - socioeconomic status , psychology , social psychology , logistic regression , general social survey , cigarette smoking , demography , sociology , population , mathematics , medicine , statistics
Objectives. The inverse relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and smoking is typically seen in terms of the greater economic and social resources of advantaged groups, but it may also relate to cultural resources. This study aims to test theories of symbolic distinction by examining relationships between smoking and ostensibly unrelated cultural preferences. Methods. Using the 1993 General Social Survey, ordinal logistic regression models, and a three‐category dependent variable (never, former, and current smoker), the analysis estimates relationships of musical likes and dislikes with smoking while controlling for SES and social strain. Results. Preferences for classical music are associated with lower smoking, while preferences for bluegrass, jazz, and heavy metal music are associated with higher smoking. Conclusions. The results suggest that SES groups may use smoking, like other cultural tastes, to distinguish their lifestyles from those of others.