Smoking-Related Beliefs and Susceptibility Among United States Youth Nonsmokers

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to examine racial/ethnic disparities in smoking beliefs and susceptibility in a nationally representative sample of United States youth nonsmokers (N = 21,931). Methods: Weighted regression models were used to examine smoking-related beliefs and susceptibility by race/ethnicity adjusting for demographics, exposure to pro-tobacco advertising and promotions, parental guidance against tobacco use, and peer norms. Results: Compared with non-Hispanic whites, racial/ethnic minority youth endorsed pro-smoking beliefs and were susceptible to smoking. Non-Hispanic blacks, non-Hispanic Asians, and Hispanics embraced social benefits of smoking (all p < .05). Hispanics had lower perceptions of tobacco-related risks (adjusted odds ratio = .87) and were more susceptible to smoking (adjusted odds ratio = 1.56). Disparities in smoking beliefs and susceptibility persisted between minority and non-Hispanic white youth after adjusting for exposure to pro-tobacco advertising and promotions, parental guidance against tobacco use, and peer norms. Conclusions: Smoking-related beliefs and susceptibility varied by race/ethnicity among youth nonsmokers after accounting for known predictors of youth smoking. Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine.