CIGARETTE AND SMOKELESS TOBACCO USE AMONG MIGRANT AND NONMIGRANT MEXICAN-AMERICAN YOUTH

Increase in smoking/tobacco-related diseases among the Hispanic popula tion calls for an examination of its use among this population. This s tudy examined the relationship between gender; level of cultural ident ification migrant status, and grade level and tobacco use and percepti on of its harm among Mexican American youth. Results showed males more likely to use cigarettes (occasional and daily) and smokeless tobacco than females when grade, cultural identification and migrant status o f parents am held constant No gender effect was found for lifetime cig arette use. The odds of using cigarettes and smokeless tobacco increas e substantially across grades. Effects were found for Mexican American /Spanish and Anglo/White American cultural identification and daily ci garette use. Youths who belonged to nonmigrant families or who identif ied with a traditional Mexican American/Spanish culture were more like ly to consider regular tobacco use as harmful. These and other finding s are discussed from the perspective of future research and prevention and intervention efforts.