Online tobacco marketing among US adolescent sexual, gender, racial, and ethnic minorities. (August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Soneji, Samir; Knutzen, Kristin E.; Tan, Andy S.L.; Moran, Meghan Bridgid; Yang, JaeWon; Sargent, James; Choi, Kelvin
• Is Part Of: Addictive behaviors. Volume 95(2019)
• Page Start: 189
• Page End: 196
• Publication Date: 2019-08
• Subjects: Substance abuse -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Drug addiction -- Periodicals; Nicotine addiction -- Periodicals; Smoking -- Periodicals; Gambling -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 362.29
• DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.03.015
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-4603

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: The tobacco industry has previously targeted sexual/gender and racial/ethnic minorities with focused campaigns in traditional, offline marketing. We assess whether these populations report more engagement with online tobacco marketing compared with heterosexual and non-Hispanic white youth. Methods: Data were from 8015 adolescents sampled between 2014 and 2015 in the nationally-representative Population Assessment for Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study. Engagement with online tobacco marketing within the past year was assessed through eight forms of engagement. A weighted logistic regression model was fit with engagement as outcome and socio-demographic and psychosocial characteristics, internet-related and substance use behavior, tobacco-related risk factors, tobacco use status, and prior engagement with online tobacco marketing as covariates. Results: Accounting for other covariates including tobacco use status and prior engagement with online tobacco marketing, the odds of past-year engagement were higher for sexual minority males (aOR = 1.57; 95% CI: 1.05–2.35) compared to straight males and higher for sexual minority females (aOR = 1.45; 95% CI: 1.13–1.87) compared to straight females. The odds of past-year engagement were also higher for Hispanics (aOR = 1.31; 95% CI: 1.11–1.56) and non-Hispanic Blacks (aOR = 1.42; 95% CI: 1.14–1.77) compared to non-Hispanic Whites. Conclusions: Sexual/gender and and racial/ethnic minority youth reported higher engagement with online tobacco marketing than their heterosexual and non-Hispanic white peers, respectively. Highlights: Leading form of engagement with online tobacco marketing was watching videos about tobacco products. Sexual/gender and racial/ethnic minority adolescents face higher risk of engaging with online tobacco marketing compared to their straight and non-Hispanic white counterparts. This risk may worsen existing disparities in tobacco use among some of these populations.