Marc Anthony Adams, MPH¹, Ana Martinez-Donate, PhD¹, Melbourne F. Hovell, PhD, MPH¹, C. Richard Hofstetter, PhD², Carlos Vera², and Gloria Valerio². (1) Center for Behavioral Epidemiology and Community Health, San Diego State University, 9245 Sky Park Court, Suite 230, San Diego, CA 92123, 619-220-0048, madams@projects.sdsu.edu, (2) Center for Behavioral Epidemiology and Community Health, San Diego State University, Graduate School of Public Health, 9245 Sky Park Ct. Suite 230, San Diego, CA 92123

Residential smoking bans are associated with decreased levels of smoking and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure. The present study explored correlates of home smoking policies among Mexican-descent residents in San Diego, CA, the largest regional minority group. Preliminary data (N=813) were analyzed from an ongoing population survey on tobacco use and policies. Using a cross-sectional design, participants were contacted through random digit dialing and interviewed either in Spanish or English on household policies, tobacco use, and attitudes regarding ETS exposure. Based on the Behavioral Ecological Model, the interview included measures on ecological factors, such as characteristics of household residents, social contingencies regarding tobacco use, ETS exposure, and acculturation. About 91.8% of participants reported a complete smoking ban in their home. A logistic regression model indicated that, after adjusting for demographics, participants living with a smoker (OR=.28, 95% CI, .14-.53) were less likely to report a complete smoking ban. A complete ban was associated with having smoked <100 cigarettes during their lifetime (OR=2.8, 95% CI, 1.2-6.6) and holding negative attitudes towards ETS exposure (OR=3.4, 95% CI, 1.5-7.5). At the inter-personal level, spouse disapproval of smoking (OR=1.5, 95% CI, 1.02-2.3), family and friends’ support for ETS policies (OR=1.8, 95% CI, 1.4-2.4), and their intolerance towards smoking (OR=1.4, 95% CI, 1.1-1.9) were positively associated with a home ban. The results suggest the importance of the social environment, in addition to intrapersonal factors, on the adoption of smoke free residential policies among Mexican-Americans, and have important implications for the design of risk reduction interventions.

Learning Objectives: By the end of the poster presentation, participants will be able to

• Operationalize measurements of acculturation and social contingencies (antecedent-behavior-consequence contingencies) which are related to tobacco use and environmental tobacco smoke exposure.
• Discuss the normative group’s impact on residential tobacco policies among Mexican Americans.
• Assess the significance of social contingencies from the normative group and the implications for tobacco control interventions with this population.

Keywords: Tobacco Control, Policy/Policy Development

Related Web page: www.cbeach.org

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.