Tobacco Use Among Racial and Ethnic Population Subgroups of Adolescents in the United States
Author Information
Author(s): Caraballo Ralph S, Yee Sue Lin, Pechacek Terry F, Henson Rosemarie, Gfroerer Joseph C
Primary Institution: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Hypothesis
The study aims to evaluate cigarette smoking among U.S. youths by racial and ethnic subgroups.
Conclusion
The prevalence of cigarette smoking among youths varies widely by racial and ethnic subgroup.
Supporting Evidence
- The prevalence of smoking among youths aged 12 to 17 years varied among racial and ethnic subgroups.
- American Indians and Alaska Natives had the highest prevalence of current smoking at 27.9%.
- One in four never-smokers aged 12 to 17 years was classified as susceptible to becoming a smoker.
- White and African American boys initiated smoking earlier than their female counterparts.
Takeaway
Different groups of kids smoke cigarettes at different rates, and some groups start smoking earlier than others.
Methodology
The study analyzed data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) for youths aged 12 to 17 years from 1999 to 2001.
Potential Biases
The study may be subject to bias due to self-reporting and privacy concerns during interviews.
Limitations
The study's limitations include potential underestimation of smoking prevalence due to language barriers and low precision of estimates for certain subgroups.
Participant Demographics
Participants were U.S. youths aged 12 to 17 years, with a diverse representation across 14 racial and ethnic subgroups.
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