A number of studies have suggested that acculturation to mainstream U. S. culture may influence cigarette smoking and/or initiation among immigrants. However, the studies have not shown consistent results across ethnic groups. This study investigated the mediators between acculturation and cigarette use and examined the moderating effects of gender on the potential acculturation pathways to tobacco use among Chinese. We selected Chinese as the targeted study population as Chinese is the second largest immigrant groups next to Hispanic/Latinos and Chinese possess the lowest early adolescent smoking rate compared to other ethnic groups in California. The data were pulled out from the 1995-96 SWRL Drug and Alcohol Survey conducted by WestEd Southwest Regional Laboratory. The original survey targeted 13, 374 9th and 12th grade students in 31 California schools. The sample used in this study is comprised of 2350 Chinese students. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to test the conceptual model. High acculturation is indicated by early age arriving at the US, more frequently speaking English, family or self more likely living by traditional way of life. The findings indicated that (1) higher acculturation is generally related to higher smoking risk; (2) familial factors played an important role in constraining Chinese adolescents from cigarette smoking; (3) both preexisting difference and acculturation contributed to the gender difference in smoking rates. These findings would help in the design of cultural-sensitive smoking initiation prevention programs among Chinese immigrant youth. Further studies will make multi-ethnic comparisons on mechanisms of how acculturation influences smoking risks.
Keywords: Adolescents, Tobacco
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.