Tobacco use amongst African American youth living in Urban Public Housing

There are gaps in the literature including the relative impact of multiple variables on tobacco use among African American youth living in urban public housing. Using a sample of 518 African American youth living in public housing developments in three large U.S. cities, this study examines the prevalence and predictors of adolescent tobacco use. The youths averaged 15.3 years of age (SD=2.5) with a range of 11-20 and 51% were male. Using Problem Behavior Theory (1977), we measured personality system (intention to use a tobacco, self-efficacy, attitudes towards delinquent behavior, and depressive symptoms), perceived environment system (family relationships, parent support, and parent supervision), and behavior system (delinquent peers, alcohol use, and marijuana use). Findings revealed nearly half (46.1%) of the study sample youth used tobacco in their life; one-fifth (20.1%) used in the past 12 months. Of those who ever used a tobacco, the average onset age was 14.2 years old (SD=2.6). Multivariate regression analyses showed that age (b=0.07), intention to use a tobacco (b=0.18), depressive correlates (b=0.02), delinquent behavior (b=0.02), and marijuana use (b=0.59) positively predicted 12-month tobacco use. In addition, age positively moderated the impact of intention to use a tobacco and marijuana use on tobacco use. Findings extend the theory by providing evidence that all the three system variables positively predicted tobacco use. Our study emphasizes that practices and policies aimed at reducing the significant predictors may ameliorate the detrimental consequences of smoking amongst African American youth living in urban public housing.