Cultural, Material, and Psychosocial Correlates of the Socioeconomic Gradient in Smoking Behavior among Adults

doi:10.1006/pmed.1997.0174

Preventive Medicine

Volume 26, Issue 5, September 1997, Pages 754-766

https://doi.org/10.1006/pmed.1997.0174 Get rights and content

Abstract

Background.The aim was to identify the correlates of educational differences in smoking among adults.

Methods.We used data from the baseline of a Dutch longitudinal study, relating to a population of 2,462 respondents, ages 25–74. Logistic regression was used to assess the educational gradient in smoking. Current smokers were compared with former and never smokers, respectively.

Results.The risk of being a current smoker compared with being a former/never smoker was higher among lower educational groups. For example, the odds of being a current smoker compared with never smoker among persons in the lowest level was more than five times as high as that for persons in the highest level. A substantial part (20–40%) of the increased risk of being a smoker among lower groups appeared to be associated with adverse material conditions. The financial situation especially accounted for that effect. One of the cultural factors, i.e., locus of control, was found to account for approximately 30% of the educational gradient in the case in which smokers were compared with former smokers. Psychosocial factors, i.e., neuroticism and coping styles, accounted for less of the gradient in smoking than cultural and material factors.

Conclusions.On the basis of the results, we hypothesize that both cultural and material factors contribute to the higher smoking rates among lower socioeconomic groups. Psychosocial factors seem to be less important. If our results are confirmed in more powerful studies, this would indicate, first, that possibilities for a reduction of smoking differences may be found in tailoring smoking cessation programs to the more externally oriented locus of control and the coping styles that are common among lower educational groups, and second, that a reduction of smoking differences may follow from an improvement of the material living conditions of lower socioeconomic groups.

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^☆: P, TownsendN, DavidsonM, Whitehead, editors

¹: To whom correspondence and reprint requests should be addressed at present address: Institute of Social Medicine, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 15, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Fax: 020 6972316. E-mail: [email protected].

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Regular ArticleCultural, Material, and Psychosocial Correlates of the Socioeconomic Gradient in Smoking Behavior among Adults☆

Abstract

Lancet

Soc Sci Med

Soc Sci Med

Soc Sci Med

Soc Sci Med

Soc Sci Med

Soc Sci Med

Soc Sci Med

Perspect Individ Differ

Cigarette smoking and cessation rates by level of education in five western countries

Int J Epidemiol

International comparisons of trends in cigarette smoking prevalence

Am J Public Health

Cigarette smoking: a light on gender and class inequality in Britain?

J Soc Policy

Employment grade and coronary heart disease in British civil servants

J Epidemiol Community Health

Relationship of education to major risk factors and death from coronary heart disease, cardiovascular diseases and all causes

Circulation

Social class and preventive health behaviour: a British example

J Epidemiol Community Health

Sociological approaches to health and medicine

Social stratification. Class, race and gender in sociological perspective

Sociology in medicine

Health, health risks and inequalities: an exploratory study of women's perceptions

Soc Health Illness

Theorising class, health and lifestyles: can Bourdieu help us?

Soc Health Illness

Health and lifestyles

Locus of control: beheersingsoriëntatie in relatie tot ziekte- en gezondheidsgedrag

When life's a drag. Women, smoking and disadvantage

Regular Article
Cultural, Material, and Psychosocial Correlates of the Socioeconomic Gradient in Smoking Behavior among Adults☆