The role of race-related vigilance on smoking cessation challenges among Black individuals who smoke.

Background

Black persons who smoke are a recognized tobacco disparities group in the United States. Although past research indicates racial/ethnic discrimination is important to smoking among this group, less attention has been focused on anticipatory stress characterized by race-related vigilance, which is heightened awareness and preparation for potential discriminatory encounters.

Objectives

The current study examined the role of race-related vigilance on smoking cessation outcomes, including severity of problems when quitting, perceived barriers for smoking cessation, as well as smoking abstinence expectancies related to negative mood, somatic symptoms, harmful consequences, and positive consequences among Black adults who smoke combustible cigarettes.

Methods

The present sample consisted of 498 Black adults who reported daily use of combustible cigarettes (Mage = 45.37, SD = 14.68, age range: 18-73 years; 51.4% female).

Results

Race-related vigilance was associated with several smoking-related constructs, including severity of problems when trying to quit (b = .02, p = .01), perceived barriers for smoking cessation (b = .28, p = .009), and expectations concerning the effects of smoking abstinence (i.e. negative mood [b = .49, p < .001], positive consequences [b = .20, p = .021]) even after accounting for sociodemographic factors and perceived racial/ethnic discrimination.

Conclusions

These results provide novel evidence that race-related vigilance represents an important, yet understudied element involved in smoking behavior among Black adults, warranting further examination regarding its application to minority stress models of smoking behavior. Addressing race-related vigilance may be a critical component in developing more effective, culturally responsive cessation interventions.