Effects of Acculturation and Social Norms on Adolescent Smoking Among Asian-American Subgroups

• NCJ Number: 215211
• Journal: Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse Volume: 5 Issue: 2 Dated: 2006 Pages: 75-90
• Author(s): Jie Wu Weiss Ph.D.; James A. Garbanati Ph.D.
• Date Published: 2006
• Length: 16 pages
• Grant Number(s): 9DT-0090
• Sponsoring Agency: Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined how acculturation and perceived social norms affected adolescent smoking among four Asian-American subgroups.

Abstract

In examining adolescent smoking among four Asian-American subgroups: Chinese-Americans, Filipino-Americans, Korean-Americans, and Vietnamese-Americans, results indicate differences in smoking prevalence rates across subgroups. Korean-American participants reported the highest levels of lifetime smoking and 30-day smoking. Chinese-Americans reported the lowest levels on both. In contrast to the large gender disparity in the ancestral countries, smoking rates were equal for Asian-American boys and girls. Consistent with previous studies showing acculturation was a risk factor for Asian-Americans, this study found that more highly acculturated girls were more likely to try a cigarette. This study’s intent was to examine (1) variation in adolescent smoking prevalence rates across Asian-American subgroups and gender; (2) the association between acculturation and adolescent smoking; and (3) the association between perceived social norms and adolescent smoking. The Asian-Americans in this study (n=1,139) were a subsample from a larger study with more than 3,000 respondents of several ethnicities. Tables, references