Racial and/or Ethnic, Sex, and Age Differences in Smoking Prevalences among Youth and Young Adults
Abstract
Purpose: Prevalence of tobacco use varies by age, sex, and race and/or ethnicity in youth and young adults. Understanding patterns of smoking behaviors across this age spectrum and racial and/or ethnic and sex groups is important for planning and implementing prevention and cessation strategies. Methods: Data from Waves 1 (2013–2014) through 7 (2022–2023) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study was used to assess changes in smoking behaviors over time in a nationally representative cohort of youth and young adults. Analyses were stratified by race and/or ethnicity (Black, Latino, White), sex, and age group (12–17, 18–20, 21–24 years) to explore differences in current cigarette use. Results: Differences in smoking patterns were evident by race and/or ethnicity, sex, and age. Cigarette use prevalences were generally highest among White youth and young adults, although this pattern did not extend to all sex and age groups. Among those aged 21–24 at baseline, Black male respondents had the highest prevalences of cigarette use over time, from 41.9% at Wave 1 to 32.7% at Wave 7, and Latino male respondents had the highest prevalences of e-cigarette use at Waves 5 to 7 (18.3%, 15.8%, and 20.4%, respectively). Black, Latino, and White female respondents consistently exhibited lower cigarette and e-cigarette use prevalences than their male counterparts. Discussion: There are notable variations in smoking patterns by race and/or ethnicity, sex, and age. These…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a cohort study, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence.
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