Tracy R. Nichols, PhD, Public Health, Cornell Weill Medical College, 411 E 69 St., New York, NY 10021, 212-746-1270, tnichols@bway.net

Recent findings highlight the need to examine developmental pathways of smoking among adolescent girls, particularly among minority girls, who are often under-represented in studies of smoking etiology. The current study examines smoking initiation among urban minority girls as they transition through junior high school. Longitudinal data (7th thru 9th grade) from the control condition of a large-scale randomized drug prevention trial will be presented. The sample consists of 734 girls (50% Black; 31% Latina; and 19% from other ethnic/racial backgrounds) in New York City. Self-report surveys on smoking behaviors (frequency, quantity, and future intentions) and social influences were administered annually along with a biochemical validation of smoking. Social influence variables consisted of normative expectations of both peer and adult smoking, perceived smoking of friends’ and family and ease in obtaining cigarettes. Results confirmed expected differences in smoking initiation by race/ethnicity from 7th to 8th grade but not from 8th to 9th grade. Eight percent of non-smoking Black girls initiated smoking by 8th grade as compared to 18% of Latinas and 13% of girls from other racial/ethnic backgrounds. By 9th grade initiation was equivalent across groups (7% of previous non-smokers). Similar results were found for smoking intentions. Few differences were found by social influence at baseline, except for Black girls reporting greater ease in obtaining cigarettes. Repeated measure ANOVAs showed differences in smoking trajectories by race/ethnicity, social influence risk, as well as a race by risk interaction. Implications of these findings on developing effective prevention strategies will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the presentation participants will be able to
• critically discuss similarities and differences in girls’ smoking transitions across ethnicities;
• recognize the complex role of social influences in the development of smoking behaviors among minority girls; and
• apply knowledge of the interplay between race/ethnicity, gender, and social influences in the development of effective smoking prevention programs.

Keywords: Smoking, Adolescents

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.