Predictors of Cigar, Cigarillo, and Little Cigar Initiation Among Hip Hop-Identifying Youth

We explored predictors of cigar product initiation among Hip Hop-identifying U.S. youth using data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Fresh Empire evaluation. Participants were Hip Hop-identifying youth living in evaluation markets who had not initiated cigar product use at their first survey.

We modeled cigar product initiation odds using discrete time survival analysis logistic regression models as a function of factors related to one's large social, physical, social/normative, and intrapersonal environment, and other tobacco use.

In the unique sample, 26.2% initiated cigar product use. Factors associated with higher cigar product initiation odds included: current/former (vs. non-susceptible never) cigarette smoking (odds ratio [OR]=5.35; p=.008); cigarette experimentation (vs. non-susceptible never smoking) (OR=3.26; p<.001); current (vs. never) e-cigarette use (OR=2.06; p<.001) and hookah use (OR=1.83; p=.011); having at least one friend who uses marijuana (OR=1.43; p=.008); high music use (OR=1.32; p=.035); household tobacco use (OR=1.26; p =.042); increased age (OR=1.18; p< .001); and higher sensation seeking (OR=1.16; p=.018). Youth reporting higher perceived smoking risks had lower cigar product initiation odds (OR=0.86; p=.029) as did Hispanic (OR=0.53; p<.001) and non-Hispanic Other youth (OR= 0.68; p=.023) (vs. non-Hispanic Black youth).

The finding that high music use predicted cigar product initiation should be considered in light of cigar brand sponsorship of musical artists and events and indicates a potential opportunity for counter messaging. Peer crowd segmentation in this study identified unique and differing factors that influence tobacco use risk among Hip Hop-identifying youth that are not found in the general population.