RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: U.S.- and foreign-born Black young adults often have different cultural backgrounds and experiences that can an affect the types of, extent of, and response to the psychosocial stressors encountered. This study examined whether psychosocial and structural stressors are similarly related to any and polytobacco (i.e., 2 or more tobacco products) use among subgroups of Black young adults in the U.S. METHODS: Cross sectional data were collected in 2023 from 445 Black young adults (aged 18-25 years) in the U.S. Stratified regression models were used to examine the association of psychosocial (mental health adversity, race-related adversity, concerns about societal issues) and structural (food insecurity and housing insecurity) stressors with past 6-month any and polytobacco use among U.S.- and foreign-born Black young adults. RESULTS: Race-related adversity was associated with higher odds of polytobacco use (than odds of nonuse) among both U.S.- (AOR=1.36, 95% CI=1.06, 1.74) and foreign- (AOR=2.18, 95% CI=1.18, 4.03) born Black young adults. Food insecurity was associated with higher odds of polytobacco use among foreign-born Black young adults (AOR=1.92, 95% CI=1.13, 3.27) and any tobacco use among both U.S.- (AOR=1.36, 95% CI=1.04, 1.79) and foreign- (AOR=1.47, 95% CI=1.01, 2.17) born Black young adults. However, concern about societal issues was associated with reduced odds of polytobacco use in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: In all models, experiences of racism and discrimination (race-related adversity) were linked to higher odds of polytobacco use, whereas concern about societal issues was protective. However, there were nativity differences in the association of food insecurity with any and polytobacco use. Findings support the need for culturally/ethnically conscious tobacco prevention strategies that address the underlying psychosocial and structural drivers of tobacco use among Black young adult subgroups.
RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: The shifting patterns in nicotine and cannabis use among young adults is taking place at a time when there is also increased reports of psychosocial stressors such as anxiety, depression, and everyday discrimination. Although race/ethnicity has been found to moderate the impact of psychosocial stressors, there is limited research examining the association of anxiety, depression, and discrimination with patterns of nicotine and/or cannabis product use among diverse young adults. METHODS: Data were from a longitudinal study of 2478 US young adults surveyed between 2019 and 2021. General estimating equation models were used to examine associations of self-reported psychological symptoms (depression, anxiety) and social stressors (discrimination) with substance use (any nicotine and cannabis product use; nicotine and cannabis vaping). RESULTS: Young adults from different racial/ethnic groups differed significantly in their depression and discrimination scores with young adults of color having higher mean scores. Overall, higher depression and everyday discrimination score was associated with increased odds of past 6-month use of any nicotine/tobacco and cannabis products. Higher generalized anxiety score increased odds of any nicotine/tobacco and dual nicotine and cannabis product use. Higher everyday discrimination score was associated with increased odds nicotine and cannabis vaping overall. Stratified models showed variation in associations among different racial/ethnic groups. CONCLUSIONS: Psychosocial stressors are associated with increased substance use odds among young adults. However, these stressors have a differential impact on substance use odds among young adults from different racial/ethnic contexts.