Collectivism in Smoking Prevention Programs for Hispanic Preadolescents: Raising the Ante on Cultural Sensitivity

Abstract

The present study examines collectivist influences in preventing smoking among Hispanic youths. Using a pretest/posttest design, sixth-graders received a collectivist or standard curriculum. Both curricula contained knowledge-based facts about smoking. The collectivist condition included an interdependent perspective. Compared to the standard curriculum, students in the collectivist condition reported more desirable behaviors, parental involvement, desirable and accurate perceptions about smoking, teacher approachability, and lower tobacco use. These results were also the case if their collectivist characteristic matched the program orientation. Collectivism should be considered for enhancing the cultural sensitivity and effectiveness of preventive programs for Hispanic preadolescents.

KEYWORDS:

• individualism/collectivism
• preventing smoking among Hispanic youths
• program orientation in intervention programs
• use of cultural variables in health promotion

Acknowledgments

This project was funded by the Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for Healthcare in Research Quality to the San Antonio Health Services Research Program [5 R24 HS014064-02]. Thanks to Marshall Taylor and Marina Gonzalez for assistance in data collection.