Gender differences in adolescent smoking: Mediator and moderator effects of self-generated expected smoking outcomes

Jennifer Irvin Vidrine, Cheryl B. Anderson, Kathryn I. Pollak, David W. Wetter

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose. To examine relations among gender, self-generated smoking-outcome expectancies, and smoking in adolescents. Methods. Students from one all-girls' (n = 350; 53%) and one all-boys' (n = 315; 47%) Catholic high school participated. Analyses included binary and ordinal logistic regression. Results. For boys, smoking behavior was associated with buzz (odds radio [OR] = 1.92, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.31-2.83, p < .001), pleasure (OR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.01-2.16, p = .044), taste/smell (OR = 2.17, 95% CI: 1.12-4.19, p = .022), stimulation (OR = 3.69, 95% CI: 1.32-10.28, p = .013), and exercise/sport impairment (OR = 2.84, 95% CI: 1.68-4.81, p < .001). Among girls, weight control (OR = 0.22, 95% CI: 0.13-0.36, p < .001), negative aesthetics (OR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.28-0.64, p < .001), addiction (OR = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.28-0.55, p < .001), and negative mood (OR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.20-0.97, p = .041) predicted smoking. Buzz (β = 2.88, p = . 004) mediated the gender-smoking relationship. Moderators included negative social (β = -0.45, p = .021) and enhance self-esteem (β = -1.07, p = .024). Conclusion. Interventions might benefit from tailoring on gender differences in smoking-outcome expectancies.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)383-387
Number of pages5
JournalAmerican Journal of Health Promotion
Volume20
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 2006

Keywords

  • Adolescents
  • Expectancies
  • Gender
  • Prevention Research
  • Smoking

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health(social science)
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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