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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Enver Hayes, Department of Psychology, Morehouse College, 830 Westview Drive, S.W, Atlanta, GA 30314, 404 681.2800, DrDotBrowne@aol.com, Dorothy Browne, MSW, MPH, DrPH, Preventive Sciences Research Center and Center for Health Disparities, Morgan State University School of Public Health and Policy, 1700 East Coldspring Lane, Jenkin 343, Baltimore, MD 21251, and Patricia Clubb, PhD, Prevention Sciences Research Center and the Center for Health Dispaarities Solutions, Morgan State University, School of Public Health and Policy, 1700 East Cold Spring Lane, Jenkin 343, Baltimore, MD 21251.

According to an analysis of 2002 to 2004 National Household Survey on Drug Use and Health data, one out of four (24.9%) African Americans had smoked in the past month (SAMHSA, 2006). In order to effectively prevent smoking among African Americans, it is important to understand the historical and cultural context in which this behavior develops. One small but growing body of research investigates the impact of personally experienced incidents of discrimination (i.e., perceived discrimination) on health (Williams, Neighbors & Jackson, 2003). The goal of this study is to investigate whether perceived discrimination is associated with lifetime smoking behaviors and the extent to which this relationship is mediated by stress. Analyses are based on the Community Health Urban Project (CHUP), which is cross-sectional study of adults living in two adjacent census tracts located in a mid-Atlantic city. These census tracts were chosen because they were ethnically diverse but socio-economically similar. Analyses were restricted to African-American (n = 851) and white participants (n = 597). Participants completed a questionnaire which contained items regarding a wide range of constructs, such as health status, access to health services, and alcohol and tobacco use. Perceived discrimination was measured using the Experiences of Discrimination measure (Krieger, Smith, Naishadham, Hartman & Barbeau, 2005). The results of multivariate analyses will be presented, with a focus on how measures of perceived discrimination inform our understanding of smoking behaviors.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participants (learner) in this session will be able to

• Recognize the importance of including culturally relevant measures in research studies, particularly perceived discrimination;
• Describe the impact of perceived discrimination on smoking behaviors; and
• Discuss the implications of these findings for prevention efforts in multiethnic communities.

Keywords: African American, Smoking

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation