Smokeless tobacco use in adolescent females: Prevalence and psychosocial factors among racial/ethnic groups

Abstract

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.

Prevalence and correlates of lifetime smokeless tobacco use in female military recruits

“…Previous studies have demonstrated cigarette smoking to be a strong correlate of both regular (CohenSmith & Severson, 1999) and lifetime (Lee et al, 1994;Riley et al, 1990) ST use in females. To our knowledge, however, the present study is the first one to demonstrate a positive association between trying clove cigarettes, pipes, and cigars and lifetime ST use among women.…”

“…Furthermore, females may be more secretive about their ST use than are men (Cohen-Smith & Severson, 1999), which could have led to a greater reluctance to admit to ST use. Third, we were not able to assess several factors found to be associated with both lifetime and regular ST use in past studies, including social modeling Cohen-Smith & Severson, 1999;Riley et al, 1990), participation in athletics and other outdoor activities (Cohen-Smith & Severson, 1999;Lee et al, 1994;Riley et al, 1990), and the use of ST for weight control (Cohen-Smith & Severson, 1999). Fourth, because of the limited number of current ST users, correlates of ST use were assessed based on lifetime history of chewing tobacco or snuff use.…”

“…In the studies described above, both lifetime and regular ST use were associated with factors such as modeling and approval of ST use by peers and family members Lee et al, 1994;Riley et al, 1990), the use of drugs and alcohol (Cohen-Smith & Severson, 1999;Riley et al, 1990), and participation in athletics and other outdoor activities (CohenSmith & Severson, 1999;Lee et al, 1994;Riley et al, 1990). Cigarette smoking, in particular, appears to be an especially strong correlate of both current and lifetime ST use among females (Cohen-Smith & Severson, 1999;Lee et al, 1994;Riley et al, 1990).…”

“…Cigarette smoking, in particular, appears to be an especially strong correlate of both current and lifetime ST use among females (Cohen-Smith & Severson, 1999;Lee et al, 1994;Riley et al, 1990). Cohen-Smith and Severson (1999), for example, reported that 98% of female regular ST users also were current or former cigarette smokers.…”

“…To date, only a handful of studies have investigated correlates of ST use specifically for females. Riley, Barenie, Mabe, and Myers (1990) investigated factors associated with lifetime ST use among 5,683 female high school students living in the southeastern United States. In another study, Lee, Chisick, and Raker (1994) examined psychosocial correlates of lifetime ST use among 1,081 adolescent female military dependents living in the South.…”