Maternal Influences on Smoking Initiation Among Urban Adolescent Girls

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Tracy R. Nichols, Associate Professor and Doctoral Program Coordinator (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/

Abstract: This study examined associations between maternal social influences to smoke and girls' early smoking behaviors. Data were collected separately from 450 urban minority girls (65.7% Black, 21.5% Latina, and 12.8% other) and their mothers on smoking frequency as well as demographic and social factors hypothesized to promote smoking. Results showed perception of mothers' smoking to be associated with girls' early smoking behaviors, whereas mothers' report of their smoking status was not. Interactions were found between ethnicity and perception of mothers' smoking, with Black girls more influenced by their perceptions of mothers' smoking status and by mothers' expectations of adult smoking than Latinas. Findings are discussed in terms of implications for preventive efforts and recommendations for future studies with urban populations.

Additional Information

Publication
Journal of Research on Adolescence, 14(1), 73-97
Language: English
Date: 2004
Keywords
Social influences, Maternal influences, Smoking, Ethnicity, Adolescent girls

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