THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RACIAL DISCRIMINATION INDUCED ANGER AND SMOKING AMONG BLACK ADOLESCENTS

Miller, Aletha Rena. The relationship between racial discrimination induced anger and smoking among Black adolescents. Doctor of Philosophy (Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine), August 2009, 76 pp., 4 tables, references, 139 titles. This study explored whether a relationship exists between smoking behaviors and racial discrimination induced anger among Black adolescents. Participants consisted of 134 Black adolescents from 14 to 18 years of age who frequently visited a recreation center in the Northeast. Forty-four participants were males and 90 were females. All participants were administered a modified version of the CAGE questionnaire, a background information questionnaire, and a measure designed to assess the extent to which they feel angry because they had been discriminated against. Only age was found to be predictive of scores on the CAGE. Only gender was found to be predictive of smoking frequency. The Black Anger Measure (BAM) was significantly correlated with smoking behaviors. Some implications for theory, research and practice are suggested. i