Secondhand smoke exposure among Hispanics/Latinos living in multiunit housing: exploring barriers to new policies.

PURPOSE: Despite a high prevalence of voluntary home smoking bans and laws protecting Californians from exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) in the workplace, many Hispanic/Latino (H/L) residents of multiunit housing (MUH) are potentially exposed to SHS from neighboring apartments. An advocacy/policy intervention was implemented to reduce tobacco-related health disparities by encouraging H/L living in MUH to implement voluntary policies that reduce exposure to SHS. This article presents findings from qualitative and quantitative data collected during development of the intervention, as well as preliminary results of the intervention. DESIGN, SETTING, AND SUBJECTS: MUH residents in Southern California participated in focus groups (n = 48), door-to-door surveys (n = 142), and a telephone survey (n = 409). MEASURES: Exposure to SHS, attitudes toward SHS, and attitudes toward policies restricting SHS in MUH were assessed. RESULTS: H/L MUH residents reported high levels of exposure to SHS and little ability to protect themselves and their families from SHS. Respondents expressed positive attitudes toward adopting antismoking policies in MUH, but they also feared retaliation by smokers. The cultural values of familismo, respeto, simpatía, and personalismo influenced their motivation to protect their families from SHS as well as their reluctance to ask their neighbors to refrain from smoking. Nonsmokers were more likely to favor complete indoor and outdoor smoking bans in MUH, whereas smokers were more likely to favor separate smoking areas. The Regale Salud advocacy/policy intervention, implemented to reduce SHS exposure, prompted the passage of seven voluntary policies in apartment complexes in Southern California to prevent smoking in MUH. CONCLUSIONS: H/L in California support voluntary policies, local ordinances, and state laws that prevent exposure to SHS in MUH, especially those that are consistent with H/L cultural values and norms for interpersonal communication.

Effects of acculturation and social norms on adolescent smoking among Asian-American subgroups.

This study provides new information about how acculturation and perceived social norms affect adolescents smoking among four Asian-American subgroups. Results showed differences in smoking prevalence rates across subgroups, with Koreans having the highest rates of smoking, while Chinese have the lowest rates. In contrast to the large gender disparity in the ancestral countries, smoking rates were equal for Asian-American boys and girls. Acculturation was significantly associated with an increased risk for lifetime smoking for Asian-American girls, but not for boys. Perceived social norms regarding peer smoking were significantly associated with smoking behaviors for both genders and for all subgroups.

Effects of family functioning and self-image on adolescent smoking initiation among Asian-American subgroups.

PURPOSE: This study examined differences in smoking prevalence and differences in associations between family functioning, self-image and adolescent smoking behavior among four Asian-American subgroups. METHODS: Statistical analyses were conducted on responses about their smoking behaviors from 1139 students who self-identified as Chinese-Americans, Filipino-Americans, Korean-Americans, and Vietnamese-Americans. RESULTS: Significant differences in the prevalence of ever-tried smoking and 30-day smoking were found across subgroups, but there were no overall gender differences. Korean-American adolescents reported the highest lifetime smoking and 30-day smoking rates, followed by Vietnamese- and Filipino-Americans. Chinese-Americans reported the lowest smoking rates. There were also differences in the associations between smoking and family functioning and self-image across the four subgroups. High family functioning was inversely associated with smoking for Chinese- and Korean-American adolescents, but not for Filipino- and Vietnamese-Americans. On the other hand, high self-image was associated with decreased risk of smoking for Filipino- and Vietnamese-Americans, but not for the other two subgroups. CONCLUSION: Findings of this study demonstrate that family functioning and self-image varied across Asian-American subgroups. This suggests the need to understand etiological differences between the groups as well as potential implications for prevention cessation programs.

Dieting and its relationship to smoking, acculturation, and family environment in Asian and Hispanic adolescents.

The objective of this article was to examine dieting and its relationship to smoking behaviors and attitudes, acculturation, and family environment in an ethnically diverse sample of adolescents. Participants were 211 adolescent girls and boys: 57% Asian, 16% Hispanic, 27% White. Regular dieting was determined using the Restraint Scale (Herman, 1978). Dependent variables were measured using the Smoking Beliefs and Attitude Questionnaire (Pederson & Lefcoe, 1985), Family Functioning in Adolescence Questionnaire (Roelofse & Middleton, 1985), and Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale (Suinn, Rickard-Figurroa, Lew, & Vigil, 1987). Dieting girls, as compared to nondieters, had more favorable attitudes toward smoking, more strongly believed that smoking keeps one from eating, and first experimented with cigarettes at an older age. Chronic dieting was related to reports of poorer family functioning, and Asian dieters were more acculturated than nondieters. For boys, there was no relationship between dieting and smoking, acculturation, or family environment. Smoking prevention programs targeted toward ethnic minority adolescent females need to address the issue of weight concern.