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The impact of social capital on changes in smoking behaviour: a longitudinal cohort study.

Giordano, Giuseppe Nicola LU and Lindström, Martin LU (2011) In European Journal of Public Health jul 1. p.347-354
Abstract
Background: Smoking prevalence across high-income countries such as the United Kingdom has significantly decreased over the past few decades; this decrease, however, has not occurred uniformly across social strata. The highest concentrations of smokers are currently found in lower-income groups. Lack of access to material resources and differing social norms have been cited as possible causes of this imbalance in smoking behaviour. Social capital, measured by trust and levels of community participation, has also been postulated to influence health behaviour. Methods: Data from the British Household Panel Survey were used to identify smoking and non-smoking cohorts at baseline (N = 10 512); from these, individuals whose smoking behaviour... (More)
Background: Smoking prevalence across high-income countries such as the United Kingdom has significantly decreased over the past few decades; this decrease, however, has not occurred uniformly across social strata. The highest concentrations of smokers are currently found in lower-income groups. Lack of access to material resources and differing social norms have been cited as possible causes of this imbalance in smoking behaviour. Social capital, measured by trust and levels of community participation, has also been postulated to influence health behaviour. Methods: Data from the British Household Panel Survey were used to identify smoking and non-smoking cohorts at baseline (N = 10 512); from these, individuals whose smoking behaviour had changed (the dependent variable) were identified. Measures of social capital, income, employment and marital status, and considered confounders were tested for associations with changes in smoking behaviour over a 2-year period. Both bivariate and multivariate models were utilized to elicit associations. Results: Only marital and employment status, along with social capital measures, remained significantly associated with changes in smoking behaviour. Individual/household income, baseline social class and general/psychological health failed to demonstrate any significant association with changes in smoking status. Conclusion: Support mechanisms (via marriage and employment) and elements social capital (measured by 'trust' and 'social participation') are independently and positively associated with smoking cessation; continual lack of active social participation and remaining single are associated with smoking initiation. Smoking interventions should consider increased participation as an intrinsic part of their design. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
European Journal of Public Health
volume
jul 1
pages
347 - 354
publisher
Oxford University Press
external identifiers
  • wos:000290812700019
  • pmid:20570962
  • scopus:79957533942
ISSN
1101-1262
DOI
10.1093/eurpub/ckq048
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
677bcb0c-e8b8-409c-aabe-e7bf14214c06 (old id 1625804)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20570962?dopt=Abstract
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 07:44:30
date last changed
2022-04-23 08:34:34
@article{677bcb0c-e8b8-409c-aabe-e7bf14214c06,
  abstract     = {{Background: Smoking prevalence across high-income countries such as the United Kingdom has significantly decreased over the past few decades; this decrease, however, has not occurred uniformly across social strata. The highest concentrations of smokers are currently found in lower-income groups. Lack of access to material resources and differing social norms have been cited as possible causes of this imbalance in smoking behaviour. Social capital, measured by trust and levels of community participation, has also been postulated to influence health behaviour. Methods: Data from the British Household Panel Survey were used to identify smoking and non-smoking cohorts at baseline (N = 10 512); from these, individuals whose smoking behaviour had changed (the dependent variable) were identified. Measures of social capital, income, employment and marital status, and considered confounders were tested for associations with changes in smoking behaviour over a 2-year period. Both bivariate and multivariate models were utilized to elicit associations. Results: Only marital and employment status, along with social capital measures, remained significantly associated with changes in smoking behaviour. Individual/household income, baseline social class and general/psychological health failed to demonstrate any significant association with changes in smoking status. Conclusion: Support mechanisms (via marriage and employment) and elements social capital (measured by 'trust' and 'social participation') are independently and positively associated with smoking cessation; continual lack of active social participation and remaining single are associated with smoking initiation. Smoking interventions should consider increased participation as an intrinsic part of their design.}},
  author       = {{Giordano, Giuseppe Nicola and Lindström, Martin}},
  issn         = {{1101-1262}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{347--354}},
  publisher    = {{Oxford University Press}},
  series       = {{European Journal of Public Health}},
  title        = {{The impact of social capital on changes in smoking behaviour: a longitudinal cohort study.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckq048}},
  doi          = {{10.1093/eurpub/ckq048}},
  volume       = {{jul 1}},
  year         = {{2011}},
}