Prior studies have found that conscientiousness has a protective effect against smoking, but evidence for this relationship mostly comes from Western contexts. In societies where smoking is pervasive and less stigmatized, the protective effect of conscientiousness on smoking may be less evident. Moreover, whether smoking is viewed as normal or deviant also may vary by gender norms attached to smoking. Using surveys of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) and Japan (MIDJA), we examined patterns in the association between conscientiousness and smoking status (never, former, current) for men and women. We found that in the United States, where the social unacceptability of smoking has dramatically increased, there is an inverse association between conscientiousness and smoking status for both genders. In Japan, where the stigma attached to smoking operates for women but not men, the association between conscientiousness and smoking status varies by gender. For Japanese men, levels of conscientiousness do not differ across smoking statuses. For Japanese women, those who formerly smoked show lower levels of conscientiousness than those who never smoked and those who currently smoke. We interpret these findings in light of differing cultural and historical backgrounds of smoking for men and women.
Objectives Chronic diseases are common in midlife and old age and smoking can pose more health and longevity challenges for older people with chronic illnesses. In China where smoking is highly prevalent, older adults are likely to continue smoking even after developing severe chronic diseases. We examined the national prevalence of persistent smoking among older adults. We also investigated the sociodemographic characteristics of persistent smoking among ever-smokers with chronic diseases and its association with social participation (of various types). Methods We used data from a nationally representative sample of older adults aged 45–80 in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS, 2011–2018). Multinomial logistic and multilevel logistic models were fitted. Results The national prevalence of persistent smoking was around 24% of older men and 3% of older women. Among those with a history of smoking and chronic illness, younger, non-married/partnered, non-retired, or less educated individuals are more likely to continue smoking. Social participation is significantly associated with persistent smoking among those with chronic diseases, but the association differs across different forms of activities. While the most popular but sedentary activities in China (playing Mahjong, chess, or cards) are associated with an elevated risk of persistent smoking, physical social activities (community-organized dancing, fitness, and qigong) are associated with a reduced risk of persistent smoking. Discussion Given the enormous burden of persistent smoking on individuals and society, public smoking cessation inventions should address sociocultural factors of persistent smoking and target older adults who participate in specific social activities.
Having a child with developmental disabilities (DD) compromises parents’ health and well-being. We have little knowledge on whether the association is robust to the presence of exposure-outcome confounders and how it varies by race. Guided by life-course perspectives, we evaluate (1) the association between having a child with DD and parental well-being and (2) racial disparities in the likelihood of having a child with DD (differential exposure), and/or the effect of having a child with DD on parental well-being (differential vulnerabilities). We advance prior studies by including a wide array of parent’s early-life adversities (ELAs, e.g., poverty and abuse), which may link the predictor to the outcome. Using the core, Refresher, and Milwaukee samples from Midlife in the United States (N=9,640, 25% non-Whites), we conducted regression analysis with race as a moderator. Compared to having a healthy child, parents having a child with DD reported lower well-being even after controlling for ELAs. While the likelihood of having a child with DD (around 10%) is similar for both non-Hispanic Whites and African Americans, African American parents are more adversely affected by having a child with DD across most of the eudaimonic well-being indicators (i.e., autonomy, self-acceptance, positive relationships with others, personal growth, environmental mastery). The later-life well-being of racial minorities is disproportionally affected by having a child with DD. Future research avenues include identifying life-course pathways that contribute to this differential vulnerability.
Introduction Little is known about sociodemographic and macro-level predictors of persistent smoking when one has developed a health condition that is likely caused by smoking. We investigate the impact of gender, education, and tobacco control policies (TCPs) on persistent smoking among older Europeans. Methods Respondents (aged 50 +) with a smoking history and at least one smoking-related health condition were pooled from the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) and the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) from four waves from 2004 to 2013. We fitted gender-specific logistic regression models with two-way fixed effects (country and year) and tested interaction terms between gender, education, and TCPs. Results Although women are less likely to smoke than men, they were more likely to smoke persistently. The effects of education and general TCPs on persistent smoking were significant for women only. Compared to women with low levels of education, those with moderate education (odds ratio [OR] = .63; .49–.82) and high education (OR=.57; .34–.98) are less likely to be persistent smokers. TCPs are associated with a reduced risk of women’s persistent smoking (OR = .70, .51–.95) and the association is stronger for those having less education. Conclusions Older women, particularly those with low levels of education, are vulnerable to persistent smoking. TCPs might be effective in reducing persistent smoking for older women, with greater effects for less-educated women. Future studies are needed to understand mechanisms that explain gender differences in responsiveness to TCPs. Implications Persistent smoking is a particularly harmful smoking behavior as it is associated with greater risks of comorbidity and mortality. By employing the framework of the multilevel social determinants of health, this study examined the behavior of persistent smoking among older adults in European countries. Women, especially women with low levels of education are vulnerable to persistent smoking. Moreover, tobacco control policies, in general, are significantly related to a reduction in persistent smoking among older women only and the negative association is stronger for those having less education, indicating gender and socioeconomic differences in responsiveness to tobacco control policies.
BackgroundThere is little information on (1) how adverse experiences in early life are associated with the risk of having a child with health problems and (2) whether the health of racial and gender minority groups would be particularly compromised if they have developmentally disabled (DD) children.ObjectiveBy integrating life-course perspectives and the intersectionality framework, we examine (1) the extent to which parents’ early-life adversities (ELAs) are associated with having children with DD or other health issues and (2) whether the association between having DD children and parental (physical and mental) health varies across race–gender groups after accounting for ELAs.MethodsUsing data from Black and White parents from the Midlife in the US Study (n = 7,425; 18% Black), we employed (1) multinomial logistic regression models to investigate the degree to which ELAs are associated with parenting types (having a child with DD, a child with recent illness, or a child without these health issues) and (2) multiple regression models with a three-way interaction term to investigate whether the gender–parenting type association differs by race.ResultsWith more adversities, the probability of having children with health issues increases for all race–gender groups, but most dramatically for Black women. Having DD children is associated with more chronic illnesses and functional limitations for women than men, with the largest burden for Black women, yet neither gender nor racial differences in depressive symptoms. Our results highlight that while raising children with DD takes a toll on the health of all parents, the strain might be larger for Black mothers.ConclusionThe adverse effects of parenting a child with DD is more pronounced for Black women than for other race–gender groups indicating opportunities to promote community-based programs for these parents.
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