Grace X. Ma, PhD, Associate Professor of Public Health, Department of Public Health, Director of Center for Asian Health, Temple University, 304A Vivacqua Hall, P.O. Box 2843, Philadelphia, PA 19122-0843, 215-204-5108, grace.ma@temple.edu, Steve Shive, PhD, MPH, Research Associate of Center for Asian Health, Department of Public Health, Temple University, 200 Prospect St., East Stroudsburg, PA 18301-2999, Yin Tan, MD, MPH, Project Manager and Research Associate, Center for Asian Health, Department of Public Health, Temple University, 304A Vivacqua Hall, P.O. Box 2843, Philadelphia, PA 19122-0843, and Rosemary M. Feeley, MA, PhD(c), Sociology Department, Research Assistant, Center for Asian Health, Temple University, 509 Fisher Lane, Warminster, PA 18974.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between acculturation and smoking in Asian American homes and the factors that predict whether Asian Americans have family members or visitors smoking in the home. A sample of 1374 participants was selected for the study, using stratified-cluster proportional sampling techniques. Response rate was 85 percent. Overall, 38.3 percent of respondents indicated exposure to secondhand smoke in their home; 33.7 percent allowed smoking by visitors in their home in the previous week. Significant differences were found between Asian American subgroups with respect to smoking in the home and allowing visitors to smoke in the home; Vietnamese had the highest rates (44.9 percent), followed by Cambodians (43.8 percent), Koreans (42.0 percent), and Chinese (29.7 percent). Results indicated that respondents who were more acculturated, measured by length of residency in the US, birthplace, and by measures on an acculturation index, were less likely to smoke in their home and less likely to allow others to smoke in their home. Being more educated, being older, and having children <18 at home served as protective factors against someone smoking and allowing visitors to smoke in the home. Public health tobacco prevention and intervention efforts should focus on reducing smoking in Asian American homes and promoting the concept that smoking is contrary to normative behavior in the US.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the session, the audience will recognize the influence of acculturation on smoking rates at home among Vietnamese, Korean, Cambodian, and Chinese immigrants to the US, and the factors that predict tobacco use in Asian American homes.

Keywords: Asian Americans, Smoking

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.