The relationship between the frequency of eating various snack foods, socioeconomic variables, and an increment in caries was studied in 143 adolescents. There were negative correlations between DMFT increments and the frequency of apples, fruit juice, and sugarless gum intake, and a positive association of DMFT increments with chocolate candy intake and spending money.

From a stratified, random sampling of Southeastern, nonurban high schools, survey data on smokeless tobacco use and potential psychosocial risk factors were obtained from 5683 adolescent females. Of the 15.3% who reported trying smokeless tobacco, most (75%) reported only experimental use. Factor analysis of the psychosocial items resulted in four factors: perceived negative consequences, substance use, modeling, and active lifestyle. Discriminant analysis on use indicated that modeling influences and use of other substances were the strongest predictors of initial smokeless tobacco use. Level of use, however, was most strongly associated with lower perceived negative consequences for use and the use of other substances. Separate analyses on American Indian, Black, and White subgroups suggested that factors associated with initial use were similar but that substantial differences exist between subgroups on risk factors for level of smokeless tobacco use.

No abstract