259578 Racial Comparison of Smoking Behaviors Among College Students

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Devan R. Romero, DrPH, MS , Kinesiology, California State University San Marcos, San Marcos, CA
Kim Pulvers, PhD, MPH , Psychology, California State University San Marcos, San Marcos, CA
Azucena Vazquez , Psychology, California State University San Marcos, San Marcos, CA
Brittany Basora , Psychology, California State University San Marcos, San Marcos, CA
College student smoking remains problematic and past studies have consisted predominantly of non-Hispanic Whites followed by small percentages of other racial groups, therefore racial differences are not well understood. This study investigated cigarette smoking using a cross-sectional design and self-report comprehensive smoking survey at a large Southern California University. Participants (n=490) were 18-24 years, 36% White, 35% Asian/Pacific Islander, 32% Latino, 3% Other, and 2% Black. Thirty-one percent of students reported any smoking behavior with consistent proportions found within the three predominant racial groups (34% Whites, 33% Asian/Pacific Islanders, 31% Latinos). Roughly 50% of these racial groups identified themselves as social smokers. The most frequently rated age for first trying smoking was 18 among Whites and Latinos and occurred equally between ages 17-19 for Asian/Pacific Islanders. More than 75% of students in each racial group reported they intend to quit smoking, 40 to 50% of all students reported they have tried to quit in the past, and most reported attempting to quit one time. Only two respondents reported using nicotine replacement therapy to quit smoking. Cigarette smoking is occurring steadily and similarly among White, Latino, and Asian/Pacific Islander college students and are characterizing themselves as social smokers. Most participants reported they want to quit smoking, despite limited quit attempts and use of nicotine replacement therapy. Tobacco cessation programming should target quitting among all racial groups in this population from a behavioral and pharmacological approach. Lastly, efforts to reduce late onset smoking initiation at 18 years of age should be employed.

Learning Areas:
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related education
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe characteristics of White, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander college smokers? 2. Discuss the implication of initiation age of smoking among college students. 3. Explain the importance of targeting all racial groups for smoking prevention and cessation efforts in college students.

Keywords: College Students, Smoking

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have a graduate certificate in Tobacco Control Methods. I have conducted research in the area of smoking and tobacco use. I teach University level courses in Tobacco Epidemiology.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.