Cross-Cultural Study of Beliefs about Smoking among Teenaged Females

Abstract

This study was designed to identify beliefs associated with smoking behavior in three different ethnic groups of teenaged females. The Neuman Systems Model provided the conceptual framework, and the Theory of Planned Behavior provided the basis for the development of the research instrument. Participants included 141 African American, 146 Puerto Rican, and 143 non-Hispanic White females, ages 13 to 19. Logistic regression analyses identified beliefs that were significantly related to smoking behavior in each ethnic group. Beliefs related to attitudes about smoking and perceived social pressure regarding smoking differed among the three ethnic groups. The findings suggest that specific beliefs distinguish between smokers and nonsmokers and that some beliefs differ by ethnicity.