Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #102732

Jamie Pivonka-Jones, MA¹, Sharon Mieras, BA¹, Ludmila Zaytsev, MA¹, Kiti Freier, PhD², Talin Babikian, MA¹, Gary Hopkins, MD, DrPH³, and Duane McBride, PhD⁴. (1) Department of Psychology, Loma Linda University, 11130 Anderson St., Suite 102, Loma Linda, CA 92350, (909)379-1506, jpivonka@univ.llu.edu, (2) Departments of Psychology and Pediatrics, Loma Linda University and Children's Hospital, 11130 Anderson St., Suite 102, Loma Linda, CA 92350, (3) School of Public Health, Loma Linda, Nichol Hall, Loma Linda, CA 92350, (4) Center for Prevention Research, Andrews University, Highway 31, Berrien Springs, MI 49104-0211

Introduction: Adolescent tobacco use in Eastern Europe (EE) is estimated to be up to 30% with dramatic rise over the last decade. Strong relationships between adolescent risk behaviors and parent/peer and teacher beliefs and behaviors has been reported. Parent influence has been shown to buffer risky behaviors and deviant peer associations. This study assessed perceived cultural mores and the role of relationships in adolescent tobacco use Armenia, Ukraine, and Romania. Methods: Data was collected at educational institutions in Armenia, Ukraine, and Romania from 2000-2003. The survey included demographics and questions from the CDC's Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Study approval was obtained from US University IRB's and appropriate regional officials addressed cultural sensitivity and translation. Informed consent and surveys were administered by trained research assistants. Results: Participant mean age ranged from15-18-years-old, with 36-54% female and 68-73% reporting smoking behaviors (cumulative N= 2,564). All countries exhibited a trend in age, the younger the adolescent the more likely to have tried smoking (-.15 to -.16, p>.0001). Maternal smoking exhibited significant relationships to adolescent smoking (Romania, r=.10, p>.0001, Ukraine, r=.21, p>.0001). Multiple family member smoking resulted in more adolescent smoking (Romania; Ukraine). Alternately, family or peer smoking resulted in less adolescent smoking (Armenia). Conclusions: While EE adolescents reported smoking, they did not report high frequency of smoking. Similar to other studies the inconsistent reporting of smoking among Armenian adolescents suggests strong cultural implications regarding addictive behaviors. EE prevention efforts must address the unique relationships between adolescent smoking and their perceived beliefs of family/peer smoking.

Learning Objectives:

• The goal of this study was to assess how cultural mores and belief structures affect adolescent smoking behaviors in an international setting,within each country as well as across countries, and in doing so, provide insight into the development of culturally appropriate tobacco abuse prevention social policy and intervention programs for adolescents.

Keywords: Adolescents, International, Tobacco

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.