DOI
https://doi.org/10.25772/BZ8P-2S87
Defense Date
2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Robin Everhart
Second Advisor
Caroline Cobb
Third Advisor
Rashelle Hayes
Abstract
Tobacco use and exposure are linked to adverse health outcomes (e.g., respiratory conditions) and increased healthcare utilization (e.g., emergency room visits). This study examined the moderating role of social support, tobacco attitudes/perceptions of harm, and asthma status on associations between tobacco use (e.g., combustible product use) and exposure (e.g., secondhand smoke) and cotinine levels among individuals in Richmond, Virginia. We also explored differences in tobacco-related variables by asthma status and associations among tobacco use, secondhand smoke exposure, cotinine levels, and asthma control. Youth (n = 201) and adults (n = 209) (95.7% Black/African American; 60.6% female; 65.8% non-tobacco users; 21% diagnosed with asthma) provided saliva samples and completed online questionnaires regarding tobacco use, secondhand smoke exposure, social support, attitudes/perceptions of harm, asthma status, and asthma control. Moderation analyses were conducted using the PROCESS macro in SPSS, with t-tests and partial correlations also conducted in SPSS v.29. Results found that social support, attitudes/perceptions of harm, and asthma status did not moderate associations between secondhand smoke exposure or combustible tobacco use and cotinine levels. No significant differences in tobacco-related variables or associations between self-reported tobacco use, secondhand smoke exposure, and asthma control were found. However, higher cotinine levels were significantly associated with worse asthma control (r(45) = -.46, p = .001). Findings offer insight into individual-level factors influencing tobacco use and nicotine exposure in a predominantly Black/African American urban sample. Future research is needed to identify other factors that may moderate the relationship between tobacco use, secondhand smoke exposure, and cotinine levels.
Rights
© The Author
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
4-29-2025