Researchers have previously uncovered important links between exposure to tobacco marketing and tobacco use in youth. However, past longitudinal research has overlooked vulnerable groups and older teens, when tobacco experimentation often escalates into long-term use. Previous research also has not investigated likely explanatory processes (intervening cognitive processes/mediators) through which marketing exposure effects tobacco use trajectories. The present project focuses on a vulnerable, lower SES, multi-ethnic (primarily Hispanic and non-Hispanic White) population of youth (16 to 20) with substantially higher smoking rates than the national norm, during ages where dramatic tobacco habit changes occur. The high rates of tobacco use escalation in this population may stem from retail marketing in lower SES neighborhoods.
This project also evaluates key credible explanatory processes, well-grounded in basic research across several disciplines. Some of the most credible processes that can explain marketing effects, not previously studied in this domain, have received consistent support from multiple lines of independent evidence across neural, cognitive, and behavioral levels of analysis — not merely survey or psychometric evidence. The study of marketing effects in a vulnerable population over critical ages, coupled with research on some of the most credible explanatory processes, will provide clear regulatory guidance to the FDA about any needs for new regulations on point-of-sale tobacco marketing (POS). Regulatory changes would be strongly suggested by firm evidence that POS has especially strong, explainable effects in lower SES neighborhoods and vulnerable populations. To investigate these effects and credible processes this project implements a cohort-sequential design in 1000 vulnerable youth from a multi-ethnic population in southern California.
Design
This project includes three design features that strongly support inferences about the link between POS tobacco advertising and tobacco use—evidence needed to inform FDA policy decisions. First, the design allows the most rigorous testing of the temporal relationship among the variables, to date, one of the key criteria for causality. Second, testing for the intervening variables will provide support for plausible causal mechanisms also buttressed by extensive basic research. The researchers comprehensively assess and thoroughly evaluate potential confounders and covariates. Thus, the project provides the most rigorous, potentially most informative study to date about tobacco marketing effects in older youth. Results may explain why some older adolescents smoke at over twice the national rate, posing serious future health risks.
Although this is an ongoing study, data collection has finished and some successful results have been published. However, additional research questions can be addressed. Data may be available for advanced graduate students wanting to write publishable manuscripts in collaboration with project faculty. The three-year design enables analysis of multiple risk factors and outcomes, including illicit drug use, in this population.
Investigators
Alan Stacy, PhD
Principal Investigator
Email address: alan.stacy@cgu.edu
Findings
Data collection and analysis may be available for further research. For more information, please contact Alan Stacy at alan.stacy@cgu.edu.