Risk and protective factors that contribute to smoking among pregnant and parenting teens

Objective. The major objective of this study was to examine the risk and protective factors associated with smoking behavior among a cohort of pregnant and parenting teens. Methods. Data were analyzed from the Multi-Site Parenting Adolescent Initiative (PAI) study that was designed to reduce repeat pregnancy and welfare dependence among pregnant or parenting adolescents aged 13 to 18 who were enrolled or likely to become eligible for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. Approximately 2,300 adolescents were recruited into the study in ten sites representing eight states. Four waves of data were collected over an 18-month period. This study utilizes Baseline data for independent and control variables but employs four data collection points to establish criteria for smoking behavior. A multinomial logistic regression was employed to identify specific types of smoking behavior, as well as to identify risk and protective factors associated with Non-Smoking, Experimental Smoking or Smoking. Results. While the largest percent of the PAI study participants were Non-Smokers (60.4%), 15.5% were Experimental Smokers and 24.1 % were Smokers. Hispanic, African-American and Other teens are more likely to be Non-Smokers or Experimenters while over half of the White teens in this study are Smokers. Experimental Smokers look more like Non-Smokers when protective factors are compared but they report more significant risk factors for smoking than Smokers. Results of the analysis showed that religiosity/spirituality, impulsivity, and drinking in the past 30-days were significantly associated with an increase in smoking behavior for Experimental Smokers compared to Non-Smokers. Conclusions. Results show that race/ethnicity is the most significant predictor of smoking amongst White pregnant and parenting adolescents regardless of pregnancy status and that all other races/ethnicities of Experimental Smokers are at significant risk of increasing their smoking behavior. From an intervention perspective, smoking behavior among pregnant and parenting adolescents must be identified early and smoking prevention and cessation programs must be initiated as soon as possible. Additionally, these programs should be developed in a manner that respects the culture of various racial and ethnic groups and should be continued throughout the course of pregnancy and followed up after child birth