Daily and Nondaily Smoking Varies by Acculturation among English-Speaking, US Latino Men and Women.

Background: Higher smoking prevalence and quantity (cigarettes per day) has been linked to acculturation in the United States among Latinas, but not Latino men. Our study examines variation between a different and increasingly important target behavior, smoking level (nondaily vs daily) and acculturation by sex.

Methods: An online English-language survey was administered to 786 Latino smokers during July through August 2012. The Brief Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans-II (ARSMA-II) and other acculturation markers were used. Multinomial logistic regression models were implemented to assess the association between smoking levels (nondaily, light daily, and moderate/heavy daily) with acculturation markers.

Results: Greater ARMSA-II scores (relative risk ratio, RRR =.81, 95% CI: .72-.91) and being born inside the United States ( RRR =.42, 95% CI: .24-.74) were associated with lower relative risk of nondaily smoking. Greater Latino orientation ( RRR =1.29, 95% CI: 1.11-1.48) and preference for Spanish language ( RRR =1.06, 95% CI: 1.02-1.10) and media ( RRR =1.12, 95% CI: 1.05-1.20) were associated with higher relative risk of nondaily smoking. The relationship between acculturation and smoking level did not differ by sex.

Conclusion: This study found that among both male and female, English-speaking Latino smokers, nondaily smoking was associated with lower acculturation, while daily smoking was linked with higher acculturation.