Sex Differences in the Role of Social Influence on Smoking Behavior and Nicotine Dependence Among African American Smokers
Khin Htet1, Brittney Greene1, Ashley Seepaul1, Camille Ragin2, Elizabeth Blackman2 and Joel Erblich1,
1Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, NY, 2Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA
Accumulating evidence points to an important role of social influence on smoking behavior. Notably, research has demonstrated significant sex differences in motivation to smoke, with women more likely to smoke for pharmacological reasons, and men more likely to smoke for social reasons. Effects, however, have not been thoroughly studied among African Americans (AA), who may have unique social and familial networks that contribute to smoking behaviors. We interviewed a community-based sample of AA smokers (n=30) from clinics and community centers in NYC and Philadelphia as part of a larger study of smoking and lung cancer risk. Measures included demographics, the Fagerstrom Test of Nicotine Dependence (FTND), and items assessing: 1) age at smoking initiation and 2) whether or not the participant has close friends/family in the community who are smokers. Our sample consisted of 20 women and 10 men who smoked an average of 8.9 (SD=5.7) cigarettes/day, from approximately 15.2 (SD=4.31) years of age. Mean FTND was 4.4 (SD=1.3). A factorial ANOVA revealed two interesting interaction effects: having a close friend/family member who smokes was related to higher levels of nicotine dependence [F(1,26)=4.9, p<0.04] and earlier age of smoking initiation [F(1,26)=11.4, p<0.01], but only in male smokers. Follow-up longitudinal studies among adolescent male and female AA smokers are warranted to further elucidate the role of social influence on smoking trajectories and risk of nicotine dependence.
Email questions and comments about this abstract to Khin.Htet58@myhunter.cuny.edu.
