PROSPECTIVE CORRELATES OF EXCLUSIVE OR COMBINED ADOLESCENT USE OF CIGARETTES AND SMOKELESS TOBACCO - A REPLICATION-EXTENSION

This one-year prospective study provides an extension of a previous cr oss-sectional investigation. The previous study found that the number of tobacco products used (i.e., smokeless tobacco, cigarettes), not ty pe of tobacco product, was associated with higher scores on problem-pr one variables. In the present study, a sample of 842 southern Californ ia seventh-grade adolescents who had not tried either cigarettes or sm okeless tobacco were identified and surveyed one year later. Onset of tobacco use was examined as an outcome variable predicted by scores on four psychosocial and two alcohol use variables in seventh grade. Unl ike the previous study, females were included in the current study, an d the potential moderating effect of gender on the pattern of predicto rs was examined. Overall, these findings indicate that onset of cigare tte smoking or use of both tobacco products is associated with alcohol use, risk taking, and low self-esteem. This study provides modest sup port for the previous investigation. In addition, two of the predictor variables were found to interact with gender. Risk-taking was found t o have a stronger association with initiation of tobacco use for femal es than males. Susceptibility to social influence to use tobacco was f ound to be associated with initiation of tobacco use for males only.