Youth Prevention

Research

Intrapersonal and interpersonal determinants of smoking status among Asian American adolescents: Findings from a national sample
A new study published in Nicotine and Tobacco Research has found that various intrapersonal and interpersonal characteristics are associated with different smoking stages in Asian-American youth. Data from the 2006 National Youth Tobacco Survey were analyzed for predictors of experimental, occasional, and regular smoking among 1,368 Asian American sixth through twelfth graders. Analysis showed that 12% of Asian American youth surveyed had experimented with cigarettes, 3% smoked occasionally, and 2% smoked regularly. The smoking prevalence was higher among high school students than middle school students, and also among males compared to females. Various other factors were found to be associated with each stage of smoking: experimental, occasional, and regular smoking. Based on these results, predictors of smoking for each of these three stages should be addressed when developing smoking prevention and cessation activities for Asian American youth. Click here to read the study abstract.

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International

Differences in the smoking identities of adolescent boys and girls (Canada)
A new Canadian study published in Addictive Behaviors indicates that boys and girls may conceptualize and describe their identity as a smoker in different ways. Researchers surveyed 7,246 students enrolled in seventh through twelfth grades, gathering information on their smoking history, self-reported smoking identity (self-identification as a nonsmoker, former smoker, or regular smoker), perceived addiction to tobacco, and nicotine dependence scores. They found that girls were more likely to say they were social, irregular, regular, or ex-smokers than boys, and were more likely to classify themselves with more than one smoking identity. Among smokers in each smoking identity group, girls smoked fewer cigarettes per day and scored lower on all tobacco dependence measures (except the emotional dependence dimension of the DTDS) compared to boys. The authors suggest that future work could compare adolescent smoking identities to those assigned by researchers and also use qualitative methods to look more into gender differences regarding smoking identities. Click here to read more.

Evaluation of the removal of point-of-sale tobacco displays in Ireland (Ireland)
Research published in Tobacco Control indicates that Ireland's move to prohibit point-of-sale tobacco displays is helping to reduce recall of displays among adults and teenagers. Investigators used audit surveys to assess retailer compliance from 2007-2009; monthly surveys of 1,000 adults to determine smoking prevalence and attitudes from 2002-2009; and interviews of 180 youth to determine attitudes and beliefs in June and August of 2009. They found that retailer compliance with the law was very high at 97% and that more adults supported the law after it was implemented than before (58% compared to 66%). Recall of displays decreased significantly among both adults, from 49% to 22%, and teenagers, from 81% to 22%. The proportion of youth believing that more than 20% of their peers smoked decreased from 62% to 46%, and 38% of youth respondents thought the law made it easier for adolescents not to smoke. These results show that the law is supported and followed, and may also suggest that the legislation has aided in de-normalizing smoking. Click here to read the abstract of the study.

Effects of dissuasive packaging on young adult smokers (New Zealand)
Researchers in New Zealand have found that young adult smokers are significantly less likely to choose cigarette packages that have limited branding elements or large health warnings. To test the effects of plain packaging and health warning elements on cigarette packages on cessation behaviors, 292 young adult smokers were interviewed regarding their packaging preferences. Thirteen different test options were compared, consisting of three different warning sizes, four different levels of branding, and one completely plain pack used as a control. Of these options, participants were significantly less likely to choose packs that contained less branding or larger health warnings. Packs with more branding were more likely to be selected when combined with a health warning covering 50% of the pack, but not with a 75% sized health warning. This indicates that cigarette packages without branding and featuring large graphic health warnings are less appealing to young adults than fully- or partially-branded packs, and that plain packaging may help promote cessation. Read the abstract of the study, published in Tobacco Control.

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