Ten-year changes in smoking among young adults: Are racial differences explained by socioeconomic factors in the CARDIA study?

Objectives. This study investigated whether socioeconomic factors explain r acial/ethnic differences in regular smoking initiation and cessation. Methods. Data were derived from the CARDIA study, a cohort of 5115 healthy adults aged 18 to 30 years at baseline (1985-1986) and recruited from the p opulations of 4 US cities. Respondents were followed over 10 years. Results. Among 3950 respondents reexamined in 1995-1996, 20% of Whites and 33% of African Americans were smokers, as compared with 25% and 32%, respec tively, in 1985-1986. On average, African Americans were of lower socioecon omic status. Ten-year regular smoking initiation rates for African American women, White women, African American men, and White men were 7.1%, 3.5%,13 .2%, and 5.1%, respectively, and the corresponding cessation rates were 25% ,35.1%,19.2%, and 31.3%. After adjustment for socioeconomic factors, most 9 5% confidence intervals of the odds ratios for regular smoking initiation a nd cessation in African Americans vs Whites included I. Conclusions. Less beneficial 10-year changes in smoking were observed in Af rican Americans, but socioeconomic factors explained most of the racial dis parity.