Racial/Ethnic Differences in the Relationship Among Cigarette Use, Religiosity, and Social Norms for U.S. Adolescents

Abstract

This study investigated the racial/ethnic differences in the role of social norms in the protective relationship between religiosity and cigarette smoking. The 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health was used to investigate the relationships between smoking, religiosity, and social norms of U.S. adolescents (N = 13,278). Significant indirect effects between religiosity and smoking were found through social norms for non-Hispanic White adolescents. Findings were mixed for non-Hispanic Black adolescents. Mechanisms driving the religiosity–smoking association differ across subpopulations. Smoking prevention efforts and messaging campaigns that include partnerships with religious communities may require consideration of these racial/ethnic differences when planning prevention strategies.

KEYWORDS:

• adolescents
• cigarette use
• network closure
• religiosity/spirituality
• smoking
• social learning theory
• social norms
• vicarious learning networks

Notes

^a Significant difference at the ≥95% confidence level between NH white and NH black adolescents.

^b Significant difference at the ≥95% confidence level between NH white and Hispanic adolescents.

^c Significant difference at the ≥95% confidence level between NH black and Hispanic adolescents.

^n/s No significant differences found.

*p ≤ .05; **p ≤ .01; ***p ≤ .001.

*p ≤ .05; **p ≤ .01; ***p ≤ .001.