Increased risk of cigarette smoking among immigrant children and girls in Hong Kong : an emerging public health issue
Document Type
Journal article
Source Publication
Journal of Community Health
Publication Date
2-2012
Volume
37
Issue
1
First Page
144
Last Page
152
Publisher
Springer New York LLC
Keywords
Immigrants, Gender differences, Adolescent smoking, Hong Kong
Abstract
Despite global progress in tobacco control, data are needed for subgroups with increased risk of tobacco use for more effective smoking prevention. Survey data from a random sample of 6,486 youth in grades 7, 8 and 9 were derived from the project Chinese Student Health Survey. Prevalence and hazards of smoking onset were compared by gender and immigrant status. Mediation analysis was used to assess factors that may mediate the impact of immigrant status on smoking. Immigrant students had a much higher risk of hazards of smoking initiation than non-immigrant students. Parental monitoring and parental smoking significantly mediated the effect of immigrant status on early smoking onset. In addition, gender differences in the prevalence of smoking and hazards of smoking onset in our study were smaller than those reported by others targeting non-Hong Kong Chinese youth. Findings of this study imply that immigrant children and girls in Hong Kong are at increased risk to tobacco use. Special attention should be paid to these subgroups for prevention intervention. Prevention intervention for immigrant children should address parental smoking and parental monitoring. Reduced gender difference in smoking among Hong Kong youth suggests an emerging trend for more Chinese girls on the Mainland to smoke along with the rapid socioeconomic development.
DOI
10.1007/s10900-011-9428-9
Print ISSN
00945145
E-ISSN
15733610
Publisher Statement
Copyright © Sringer Science+Business Media, LLC 2011.
Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.
Full-text Version
Publisher’s Version
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Lau, M., Chen, X., & Ren, Y. (2012). Increased risk of cigarette smoking among immigrant children and girls in Hong Kong: An emerging public health issue. Journal of Community Health, 37(1), 144-152. doi: 10.1007/s10900-011-9428-9