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

Abstract #111439

Tracy R. Nichols, PhD¹, Sara V. Birnel, BA², Karimah R. Crosson³, Nicole L. Miller, MPH², Marissa Raymond, BA⁴, Anna Rodriguez⁵, Elizabeth Tinoyue⁶, Julynn Williams³, Christel Hyden, MS², and Amanda S. Birnbaum, PhD, MPH⁷. (1) Department of Public Health, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, 411 East 69th Street, KB-201, New York, NY 10021, 212-746-1270, trdiaz@med.cornell.edu, (2) Department of Public Health, Division of Prevention & Health Behavior, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, 411 E 69th St., New York, NY 10021, (3) Spelman College, 350 Spelman Lane S.W., Atlanta, GA 30314, (4) Weill Medical College of Cornell University, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, (5) Hunter College, 695 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10021, (6) Barnard College, 3009 Broadway, New York, NY 10027, (7) Department of Public Health, Division of Prevention & Health Behavior, Weill Cornell Medical College, 411 East 69th Street, KB-209, New York, NY 10021

With the recent increase in girls' smoking and numerous studies highlighting gender-specific health disparities from smoking, research needs to address the early smoking behaviors of adolescent girls. Understanding the contexts in which girls first begin to smoke and how these experiences progress into smoking behaviors is critical for developing effective prevention strategies. This paper highlights themes and contexts of girls' early experiences with cigarettes, which emerged from a structured writing group among young women of color. The writing group consisted of eight members; six in their early twenties and two in their thirties. All members were women of color and the leader was Caucasian. Members conducted weekly writing assignments, exploring themes relevant to adolescent girls' lives. Each writer immersed herself in memories of her own experiences prior to writing responses to a series of evocative questions. Writings were shared among all members and a weekly discussion meeting was conducted. Responses were independently reviewed by several members of the team and common themes were compiled. Themes were shared with the group and a consensus was reached. Findings support the importance of family for girls' smoking, particularly in terms of adult female role models, first opportunities, and reasons not to smoke. Other themes include the aesthetic images smoking held for girls and their concerns with “doing it right.” Examples will be provided, along with a discussion on how to incorporate them into effective smoking prevention strategies for girls.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the presentation participants will
• be familiar with a new qualitative methodology for incorporating social context into program development;
• recognize the complex role family plays in the development of girls’ early smoking behaviors; and
• apply knowledge of the social context of smoking for girls to the development of effective smoking prevention programs.

Keywords: Primary Prevention, Gender

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.