Understanding tobacco use among urban African American adolescents living in public housing communities: A test of problem behavior theory

Abstract This study was guided by Jessor and Jessor's problem behavior theory (PBT) to test the relative effects of personality, perceived environment and behavior system variables on urban teen tobacco use. A sample of 518 urban African American youth residing in public housing communities in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Addictive behaviors 2012-08, Vol.37 (8), p.978-981
Main Authors: Yu, Mansoo, Nebbitt, Von E, Lombe, Margaret, Pitner, Ronald O, Salas-Wright, Christopher P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Addictive behaviors
Adolescent
Adolescent Behavior - psychology
African American youth
African Americans
African Americans - psychology
Attitudes
Child
Delinquent behaviors
Depressive symptoms
Female
Humans
Male
Peer Group
Personality
Prevalence
Problem behavior theory
Psychiatry
Public Housing
Risk Factors
Self Report
Smoking
Smoking - epidemiology
Smoking - psychology
Social Environment
Teenagers
Tobacco
Tobacco use
United States - epidemiology
Urban Health
Young Adult
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Summary:Abstract This study was guided by Jessor and Jessor's problem behavior theory (PBT) to test the relative effects of personality, perceived environment and behavior system variables on urban teen tobacco use. A sample of 518 urban African American youth residing in public housing communities in three large U.S. cities was utilized. Our results provide partial support for PBT in this study. Personality system variables (i.e., positive attitudes toward tobacco use, and depressive affect, cause and outcome indicators) and behavior system variables (i.e., delinquent behaviors) significantly predicted adolescent tobacco use. Depressive effect and cause indicators were stronger than depressive outcome indicators in predicting the extent of tobacco use. Additionally, age positively moderated the impact of positive attitudes about tobacco use on the extent of adolescent tobacco use. However, perceived environment system variables (e.g., exposure to delinquent peers) did not predict such use. This study suggests that PBT may aid in understanding adolescent tobacco use. Implications for practice and future inquiry are discussed.
ISSN:0306-4603
1873-6327
DOI:10.1016/j.addbeh.2012.03.023