The Importance of Income in the Link Between Tobacco Outlet Density and Demographics at the Tract Level of Analysis in New Jersey

Abstract

This study analyzed associations between tobacco outlet density and demographic correlates (median household income and minority population percentages) within two New Jersey counties. The study was conducted using variables developed from state licenses for tobacco outlets and data from residential census tracts. Results showed that tracts with lower median household income and higher percentages of minority residents had greater densities of tobacco-selling retail outlets. Results also demonstrated that median household income was the strongest predictor of tobacco outlet density across both counties. Implications of the study and directions for future research, specifically the interaction between income and race/ethnicity, are discussed.

Examining Tobacco Outlet Concentration in New Jersey: Does Income and Ethnicity Matter?

“…For example, Peterson et al (2011) showed that census tracts in New Jersey with a greater density of tobacco outlets tended to have a lower median household income and higher percentages of African American or Hispanic residents. These findings were also supported by Fakunle, Morton, and Peterson (2010), who found that income was the strongest and most consistent predictor of tobacco outlet density for two New Jersey counties.…”

“…There is a growing body of literature that examines the relationship between the concentration of tobacco outlets and demographic correlates such as race, ethnicity, and income (Fakunle et al, 2010;Peterson et al, 2005Peterson et al, , 2011Reid et al, 2005;Schneider et al, 2005;Yu, Peterson, & Reid, 2009;Yu, Peterson, Sheffer, Reid, & Schneider, 2010). The current study extends these prior investigations by elucidating how the relationship between ethnic composition and tobacco outlet density varies according to the level of income among Hispanics.…”

Is There a Relationship Between the Concentration of Same-Sex Couples and Tobacco Retailer Density?

“…The first report of a disparity in tobacco retailer density found greater density of tobacco retailers in lower socioeconomic status and higher proportion black census tracts by quartile in a single New York county. 34 Similar findings have been identified in Iowa; 35 New Jersey with added disparities for tracts with more Hispanic residents; [36][37][38][39] New York state; 40 for poverty and Hispanic residents in Chicago, Illinois; 41 and, for Hispanic residents and lower income, Omaha, Nebraska. 42 In one national study, tobacco retailer density was related to Hispanic ethnicity, poverty, and other indicators of lower socioeconomic status.…”

The association between the density of retail tobacco outlets, individual smoking status, neighbourhood socioeconomic status and school locations in New South Wales, Australia

“…(Yu et al, 2010;Kite et al, 2012;Wood et al, 2013) Novak found that in Chicago retail tobacco outlet density appeared more heavily concentrated in immigrant and high poverty communities. Looking at two New Jersey counties, Fakunle et al (2010) found that residential census tracts with lower median household income and higher percentages of minority residents had greater tobacco outlet densities. They also found that median household income was a strong predictor of tobacco outlet density and hypothesised that an area's economic power may be the determining factor in the physical availability of tobacco.…”