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Who is most susceptible to movie smoking effects? Exploring the impacts of race and socio‐economic status
Author(s) -
Soneji Samir,
Lewis Valerie A.,
Tanski Susanne,
Sargent James D.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
addiction
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.424
H-Index - 193
eISSN - 1360-0443
pISSN - 0965-2140
DOI - 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2012.03990.x
Subject(s) - respondent , ethnic group , demography , logistic regression , race (biology) , socioeconomic status , psychology , medicine , environmental health , population , political science , botany , sociology , law , biology
Aims This study assesses how race/ethnicity and socio‐economic status modify the relationship between exposure to movie smoking and having tried smoking in adolescents. Design 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. Setting National sample of US adolescents. Participants A total of 3653 respondents aged 13–18 years. Measurements 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. Findings The proportion having tried smoking was lower for blacks (32%) compared to H ispanics (41%) and whites (38%). The relationship between movie smoking and having tried smoking varied by race/ethnicity. Among whites and H ispanics exposure to movie smoking positively predicted smoking behavior, but movie smoking had no impact on blacks. S ocio‐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. W hites and H ispanics 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.