Adolescent smoking risk increases with wider income gaps between rich and poor

Health Place. 2011 Jan;17(1):222-9. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2010.10.004. Epub 2010 Oct 19.

Abstract

Data from a state-wide survey of California middle and high school students (N=20,203) were used to assess whether county income inequality and poverty rates were associated with adolescent smoking. Greater county income inequality, but not poverty rates, was associated with higher established smoking risk (p=0.0019). The association was stronger in males than females, whites than other ethnic groups, and urban than rural settings. Neither county income inequality nor poverty rates were associated with experimental smoking. The findings suggest that it may be important to consider and address economic inequality in the prevention and control of adolescent tobacco use.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • California / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Health Status Disparities
  • Humans
  • Income / statistics & numerical data*
  • Male
  • Poverty / statistics & numerical data
  • Risk Factors
  • Rural Population / statistics & numerical data
  • Sex Factors
  • Smoking / economics
  • Smoking / epidemiology*
  • Urban Population / statistics & numerical data