329806
Exploring contextual predictors of poly-use of tobacco products among African American young adults
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Ming-Ching Liang, PhD,
Department of Communication, Writing, and the Arts, Metropolitan State University, Saint Paul, MN
Lee Ann Kahlor, PhD,
Stan Richards School of Advertising and Public Relations, University of Texas at Austin, Moody College of Communication, Austin, TX
Kentya Ford, DrPH, CHES,
Health Outcomes and Pharmacy Practice Division, The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy, Austin, TX
Poly-use, the consumption of more than one tobacco product, has been recognized as a prevalent public health issue among young adults, but little is known about the contextual predictors of poly-use. The current study aims to identify media, social and environmental predictors of poly-use. Data were collected with an electronic survey study between March and July in 2014. The sample consists of 192 African American (AA) young adults recruited at local events, community centers, and colleges in a Southern city (64% female, average age =23.7). Respondents were asked about their use of cigarettes, little cigars/cigarillos, other tobacco products, and marijuana. Also included in the analysis were demographic and psychographic information (economic stress, racial centrality, social support, and racial discrimination experience), environmental factors (community norms, attributes, and access to substances), and media use (phone for Internet, Facebook, and YouTube). Results showed 21.6% were identified as poly-users of tobacco products. The regression model explained 19.7% (p<.05) of the variability within poly tobacco use. While no gender and age differences were found, marijuana use and experience of racial discrimination were positively associated with poly-use, controlling for other factors in the model. Contrary to expectations, gender, economic stress, employment status, media use, and social support were not significant contributors to poly tobacco use. Importantly, racial discrimination experience exhibited a positive relationship with poly-use. Findings suggest a need for further research and intervention programs to address racial discrimination to decrease poly-use of tobacco products among AA young adults.
Learning Areas:
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Analyze the tobacco use patterns among African American young adults
Identify contextual factors that contribute to poly-use of tobacco products
Keyword(s): Tobacco Use, African American
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: The authors have worked on several projects related to tobacco consumption among African American young adults. Some results of those projects have been presented at APHA and SRNT conferences.
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.
