Characteristics associated with smoking in a Hispanic college student sample
Theodore V Cooper1, Denise Rodríguez de Ybarra, Joseph E Charter
1Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at El Paso, USA. tvcooper@utep.edu
Addictive Behaviors
|August 16, 2011
Summary
Hispanic college students who smoke are more likely to use drugs and alcohol. Interventions for smoking cessation should address these co-occurring substance use behaviors for this population.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Behavioral Science
- Substance Use Research
Background:
- Smoking among young adults is a significant public health concern.
- Understanding specific behaviors of Hispanic college students is crucial for targeted interventions.
- Previous research has not fully explored the smoking behaviors and related factors in this demographic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine smoking-related behaviors among Hispanic young adult college students.
- To identify characteristics differentiating smokers from non-smokers in this population.
- To inform the development of effective smoking cessation programs for Hispanic college students.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 174 English-speaking Hispanic college students.
- Data collection via questionnaires assessing tobacco, drug, and alcohol use, BMI, weight concerns, acculturation, depressive symptoms, and expired carbon monoxide.
- Statistical analyses included univariate comparisons and backward elimination logistic regression.
Main Results:
- 42.5% of participants were smokers, with 77% reporting light or intermittent use.
- Smokers were significantly younger, had lower acculturation, and reported higher weekly alcohol use and ever use of marijuana compared to non-smokers.
- Logistic regression confirmed that younger age, lower acculturation, past drug use, and weekly drinking were associated with smoking.
Conclusions:
- Drug and alcohol use are significant factors associated with smoking in Hispanic college student smokers.
- Cessation interventions for this group should integrate strategies addressing co-occurring substance use.
- Tailored approaches considering acculturation and age are necessary for effective smoking cessation in Hispanic young adults.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques IV
Stress often leads to unhealthy habits like smoking, excessive drinking, and overeating, which offer short-term relief but ultimately increase long-term health risks. These behaviors create a cycle that temporarily lowers stress levels but can result in severe long-term health consequences. Breaking these habits is essential to reduce the risk of chronic diseases and improve overall well-being. Three primary changes that support better health include quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake,...
01:50Cross-Sectional Research
In cross-sectional research, a researcher compares multiple segments of the population at the same time. If they were interested in people's dietary habits, the researcher might directly compare different groups of people by age. Instead of following a group of people for 20 years to see how their dietary habits changed from decade to decade, the researcher would study a group of 20-year-old individuals and compare them to a group of 30-year-old individuals and a group of 40-year-old...
02:16Surveys
Often, psychologists develop surveys as a means of gathering data. Surveys are lists of questions to be answered by research participants, and can be delivered as paper-and-pencil questionnaires, administered electronically, or conducted verbally. Generally, the survey itself can be completed in a short time, and the ease of administering a survey makes it easy to collect data from a large number of people.
02:20Longitudinal Research
Sometimes we want to see how people change over time, as in studies of human development and lifespan. When we test the same group of individuals repeatedly over an extended period of time, we are conducting longitudinal research. Longitudinal research is a research design in which data-gathering is administered repeatedly over an extended period of time. For example, we may survey a group of individuals about their dietary habits at age 20, retest them a decade later at age 30, and then again...
01:25Statistical Methods for Analyzing Epidemiological Data
Epidemiological data primarily involves information on specific populations' occurrence, distribution, and determinants of health and diseases. This data is crucial for understanding disease patterns and impacts, aiding public health decision-making and disease prevention strategies. The analysis of epidemiological data employs various statistical methods to interpret health-related data effectively. Here are some commonly used methods:
01:11Observational Studies
Observational studies are a type of analytical study where researchers observe events without any interventions. In other words, the researcher does not influence the response variable or the experiment's outcome.
There are three types of observational studies – Prospective, retrospective, and cross-sectional.
Prospective Study
Prospective studies, also known as longitudinal or cohort studies, are carried out by collecting future data from groups sharing similar characteristics. One example of...
There are three types of observational studies – Prospective, retrospective, and cross-sectional.
Prospective Study
Prospective studies, also known as longitudinal or cohort studies, are carried out by collecting future data from groups sharing similar characteristics. One example of...