Neighborhood Deprivation and Smoking in France: The TEMPO Cohort Study

Smoking prevalence follows a socioeconomic gradient. In France, although overall smoking rates have declined, the prevalence of daily smoking remains high among individuals with the lowest socioeconomic position (SEP), especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. Literature suggests that the level of neighborhood deprivation is also associated with smoking status, and this association might vary by SEP. However, the literature is mostly cross-sectional and limited in France.

To determine the association of neighborhood deprivation on smoking, and the role of individual SEP within this association.

Using data from the French TEMPO cohort study, we conducted generalized estimating equation models to estimate the relationship between smoking status, tertiles of the French Deprivation Index (FDEP), and individual SEP, measured by education level.

The analysis was conducted on 837 participants with an average age of 31.2 years. The results of the generalized estimating equation model indicated no overall association between the FDEP and smoking, however our stratified analysis showed that those with low education residing in the highest deprivation tertile had, on average, 2.76 times greater odds of being smokers (95% CI 1.29-5.93) compared to those in the lowest deprivation tertile. Sensitivity analyses weighted by propensity scores to account for selective mobility showed consistent results.

In the first study of its nature in France, we found an association between neighborhood deprivation and smoking status for those with a low SEP. However, further research with a more representative cohort and a longer follow-up is needed.