Cigarette Smoking Behavior among American Indian adolescents: Findings from a National Sample

American Indian adolescents have higher rates of cigarette smoking overall than other ethnic/racial groups although the prevalence rates vary greatly by region and culture (USDHHS, 2008). There are gaps in the literature including the relative impacts of multiple variables on adolescent smoking behavior in a national representative sample. This study examines the prevalence and predictors of multiple types of adolescent smoking behavior (i.e., onset, lifetime, 12-month, and 30-day). Using data from the 2004 National Youth Tobacco Survey, 346 American Indian adolescents in grades 6 through 12 were selected(female, 46.5%; male, 53.5%). Findings revealed nearly half (49.8%) of the study sample youth smoked cigarettes in their life; one-fifth (19.4%) smoked in the past 12 months; and one-tenth (11.7%) smoked in the past 30 days. Of those who smoked cigarettes, the average onset age of smoking was 12.1 years old (SD=2.3). Multivariate logistic analyses showed that intention to smoking (OR=2.27,95%CI:1.51,3.42), family members' smoking (OR=2.27,95%CI:1.22,4.22), best friends' smoking (OR=1.51,95%CI:1.14,2.01), and receptivity to tobacco marketing (OR=1.46,95%CI:1.01,2.10) were predictors of lifetime cigarette smoking; Perception of the harmful effects of cigarette smoking (OR=0.48,95%CI:0.28,0.80), intention to smoking (OR=3.63,95%CI: 2.07,6.36), and best friends' smoking (OR=1.60,95%CI:1.14,2.25) were predictors of 12-month smoking; and weekly income (OR=1.30,95%CI: 1.02,1.65) and intention to smoking (OR=3.48, 95%CI:1.87,6.48) were predictors of 30-day cigarette smoking. In addition, absent from school and exposure to tobacco advertising were predictors of smoking onset. Findings emphasize that practices and Policies aimed at targeting different stages of smoking behavior may reduce the deleterious consequences of smoking in this population.