This research on the lower smoking rates of black compared to white adolescents is particularly valuable because it uses a longitudinal study of black and white adolescents in the same urban school system. Data from the Philadelphia Educational Longitudinal Study, a five year study of a cohort through high school (n=1473 before 9th grade), combine annual independent student and parent interviews and school district data. First, I describe different patterns of smoking uptake and progression, from never smoking to trying less than a whole cigarette, to smoking a whole cigarette, and to regular smoking. Blacks have lower smoking rates at every stage of smoking, and at each stage they are less likely to progress to the next. Second, I describe how African Americans are more likely to be inconsistent in their self-reports of smoking, and that this accounts for some but not most of the differential. Third, I find that smoking status is not affected by school ethnic makeup, and that there does not appear to be significant between-school variation in cigarette smoking. Fourth, using multivariate logistic regression, I find that family background and school experiences such as grades, attendance, behavioral marks, academic integration, social integration, and educational aspirations do not explain ethnic differences in smoking. Lastly, before the conference, data will be available from the latest wave of PELS, which includes attitudinal items on reasons for smoking or not smoking. Multivariate logistic regression analyses will indicate whether attitudinal differences explain differences between blacks and whites in adolescent smoking.
Learning Objectives: After this session the participant will be able to describe ethnic differences in adolescent smoking in an urban setting. They will be able to apply these research findings to multiethnic anti-smoking programs to make them more effective. They will learn what attitudes among different adolescent groups are most important to reinforce or counteract in order to reduce smoking.
Keywords: Smoking, Adolescents
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.