Parent's socioeconomic status, adolescents' disposable income, and adolescents' smoking status in Massachusetts

Am J Public Health. 2003 Jul;93(7):1155-60. doi: 10.2105/ajph.93.7.1155.

Abstract

Objectives: This study examined the association between parental socioeconomic status (SES) and adolescent smoking.

Methods: We conducted telephone interviews with a probability sample of 1308 Massachusetts adolescents aged 12 to 17 years. We used multiple-variable-adjusted logistic regression models.

Results: The risk of adolescent smoking increased by 28% with each step down in parental education and increased by 30% for each step down in parental household income. These associations persisted after adjustment for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and adolescent disposable income. Parental smoking status was a mediator of these associations.

Conclusions: Parental SES is inversely associated with adolescent smoking. Parental smoking is a mediator but does not fully explain the association.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adolescent Behavior* / ethnology
  • Adolescent Behavior* / psychology
  • Depression / epidemiology
  • Family Characteristics
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Income / classification*
  • Interviews as Topic
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Massachusetts / epidemiology
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Odds Ratio
  • Parents*
  • Risk-Taking
  • Smoking / economics*
  • Smoking / epidemiology*
  • Social Class*