Effects of the economic crisis on smoking prevalence and number of smokers in the USA

Gallus, Silvano, Ghislandi, Simone and Muttarak, Raya (2015) Effects of the economic crisis on smoking prevalence and number of smokers in the USA. Tobacco Control, 24. pp. 82-88. ISSN 0964-4563

Full text not available from this repository.

Abstract

Objective: Scanty and controversial information is available on the impact of macroeconomic fluctuations on smoking behaviour. No study has quantified the effects of fiscal crises on smoking prevalence. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the 2007–2008 economic crisis on smoking prevalence and number of smokers in the USA.  Methods: Using data from the repeated Behavioural Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) surveys in precrisis (2005–2007) and post-crisis (2009–2010) periods on a total of 1 981 607 US adults, we separated the expected (after allowance for the demographic growth of the US population, secular smoking prevalence trends and changes in sociodemographic characteristics) from the unexpected (assumed attributable to the economic crisis) changes in the number of smokers across different employment statuses.  Results: Joinpoint regression analysis revealed no significant changes in smoking prevalence trends over the period 2005–2010. The crisis resulted in an increase in the number of smokers in the US by 0.6 million. This is largely due to an unexpected decrease of 1.7 million smokers among employed and an increase of 2.4 million smokers among unemployed individuals, whose smoking prevalence also remains extremely high in the post-crisis period (32.6%).  Conclusions: The 2008 financial crisis had a weak effect on smoking prevalence. The pro-cyclical relationship (ie, the crisis results in a lower number of smokers) found among the employed is offset by the counter-cyclical relationship (ie, the crisis results in a higher number of smokers) found among unemployed individuals. Public health interventions should specifically target those in unemployment, particularly in hard times.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	sdg 3 - good health and well-being ,/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/good_health_and_well_being
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Global Development (formerly School of International Development)
Related URLs:	http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?...
Depositing User:	Pure Connector
Date Deposited:	09 Sep 2017 05:06
Last Modified:	29 Oct 2022 00:09
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/64797
DOI:	10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2012-050856

Actions (login required)

View Item