Social support as a buffer between discrimination and cigarette use in juvenile offenders

Abstract

Cigarette use is a prominent problem in juvenile offenders, leading to negative health outcomes and substance use. One interesting precipitator of cigarette use in this population is discrimination. Social support could potentially buffer the positive relationship between cigarette use and discrimination in juvenile offenders, which could be dependent on the context in which the discrimination is experienced, such as peer, institutional (e.g., stores, restaurants), or educational contexts. The present study explored the relationship between three types of discrimination, social support, and smoking outcomes among 112 detained and probated juvenile offenders (mean age = 16.24, SD = 2.11, 29.2% female, 54.9% Caucasian, 40.4% detention, 53.8% smokers). Results indicated that the relationship between institutional discrimination (OR = −0.10, p = 0.005) and peer discrimination (OR = −0.11, p = 0.01) were significantly moderated by social support, with a higher likelihood of being a smoker, compared to a non-smoker at higher levels of peer and institutional discrimination. Further, based on a moderated regression analysis, results indicated that youth who experienced greater educational discrimination and lower levels of social support, they were at higher risk of nicotine addiction (b = −0.09, p = 0.03). Overall, results indicate that varying avenues of social support, such as parent, peer, and teacher support, can mitigate negative effects of discrimination on juvenile offenders, particularly cigarette use. Addressing discrimination in smoking treatment and prevention in juvenile offenders may be of great utility. Future studies should examine the potential mechanisms underlying the discrimination and cigarette use connection in juvenile offenders.

Considering the role of early discrimination experiences and the parent–child relationship in the development of disruptive behaviors in adolescence

“…From the perspective of the victim of discrimination, it may not be possible to distinguish clear lines between parts of their identity for the sole reason for the experience of discrimination. Our attempt to address this concern was to combine the forms of discrimination because discrimination in any form can negatively influence well‐being (Hershberger, Zapolski, & Aalsma, ).…”

Ethnic Discrimination and Smoking-Related Outcomes among Former and Current Arab Male Smokers in Israel: The Buffering Effects of Social Support

“…Findings from U.S. studies are inconsistent on whether social support buffers the effects of ethnic discrimination on health [21, 25, 36, 37]. Further, only one of these studies examined smoking-related outcomes and found that at low levels of social support, youth who experienced greater educational discrimination had higher levels of nicotine addiction severity than youth with high levels of social support [26]. Indeed, research on discrimination suggests that seeking social support is a commonly used coping strategy following interpersonal discriminatory events [38–40].…”

“…It can also guide individuals in using effective coping strategies to respond to discrimination [23]. Though the stress process model is widely used in health research, specific concepts, such as the buffering effects of social support, have received less empirical examination [21, 24–26]. In this study, we investigate the effect of two forms of ethnic discrimination against Arabs, interpersonal and perceived institutional group discrimination, on smoking outcomes and whether social support buffers those effects.…”

The relationship of the type of alleged crime with self-esteem and depressive symptoms in juvenile delinquents

“…Smoking poses a risk for both health and substance abuse (34). It has been suggested that smoking in juveniles draged to crime is associated with an inadequate social support (35).…”