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Nicotine & Tobacco Research Advance Access originally published online on February 27, 2009
Nicotine & Tobacco Research 2009 11(2):139-147; doi:10.1093/ntr/ntp009
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© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Longitudinal precursors of young adult light smoking among African Americans and Puerto Ricans

Pebbles Fagan, Judith S. Brook, Elizabeth Rubenstone, Chenshu Zhang and David W. Brook

Pebbles Fagan, Ph.D., Behavioral Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Populations Sciences, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
Judith S. Brook, Ed.D., Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
Elizabeth Rubenstone, B.A., Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
Chenshu Zhang, Ph.D., Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
David W. Brook, M.D., Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY

Corresponding Author: Dr. Judith S. Brook, Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, 215 Lexington Avenue, 15th floor, New York, NY 10016, USA. Telephone: 212 263-4663. Fax: 212 263-4660; Email: judith.brook{at}nyumc.org


  Abstract

Introduction: Studies have consistently documented the importance of examining light smoking among African American and Latino adolescent and adult smokers. Little is known, however, about the psychosocial antecedents of adolescent and young adult light smoking in these racial/ethnic minority groups.

Methods: This study examined the longitudinal interrelationships and pathways leading to light smoking among African Americans (n = 288) and Puerto Ricans (n = 262). Specifically, we assessed parental factors, perceived discrimination, peer smoking, personality factors, and light smoking in late adolescence as precursors to light smoking among African American and Puerto Rican young adults.

Results: The results of structural equation modeling showed that a history of greater parental smoking, less parental educational attainment, and more perceived discrimination were each mediated by peer smoking and the youth's maladaptive personality and behavior in late adolescence. The youth's maladaptive personality and behavioral characteristics and light smoking in late adolescence, in turn, predicted light smoking in young adulthood. There were no significant racial/ethnic or gender differences in the pathways to light smoking.

Discussion: Findings highlight the longitudinal pathways to light smoking among African Americans and Puerto Ricans. The results suggest that effective prevention and cessation programs must address peer and parental social influences, perceived discrimination, and especially, emotional and behavioral problems in late adolescence to reduce light smoking among late adolescents and young adults in these racial/ethnic groups.

Received: December 19, 2007; Accepted: March 31, 2008
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