Prevalence and Sociobehavioral Correlates of Tobacco Use Among Hispanic Children: The Tobacco Resistance Activity Program

摘要

ABSTRACT:To examine tobacco use patterns and its sociobehavioral correlates among Hispanic in‐school youth, a tobacco use and knowledge survey was administered to 660 children from fourth through sixth grade classes, of which 69 (n = 453) were of Hispanic origin. Male Hispanics were more exposed to previous tobacco use (38 vs. 20, p<.01), reported more current smoking, had more smoking friends, received more cigarette offers, and wanted to try a cigarette compared to females (all p<.05). Also, more previous alcohol use was noted in the previous tobacco users, indicating its potential as a “gateway drug.” From multivariate analyses, being offered cigarettes was the strongest environmental indicator of previous tobacco usage, followed by having adult smokers in the house, smoking friends, (all p<.01), and being around other smoking youth (p<.05). This study offers additional knowledge about factors that may cause Hispanic youth to initiate smoking, and suggests the need to address peer and social influences in school‐based substance abuse programs. (J Sch Health. 1993;63(9):