 How reliable is offspring’s report on parental cigarette use?  Does the reliability differ between siblings and twins?  Can we identify characteristics that impact the extent to which offspring’s reports of parental smoking match parent’s self- reports?

 The data comes from the NAG (Nicotine Addiction Genetics) Project, conducted by Pam Madden, Ph.D., and the IRPG Project, conducted by Andrew Heath, D.Phil. There were 2713 families, with a total of 9688 participants, ranging in age from Of those, 5163 (53.3%) were female and 4525 (46.7%) were male.  There were 1272 participants from 597 families with either a mother or father that participated in the survey. There were 515 mothers that participated and 374 fathers. Of those with at least one parent participating with a history of regular smoking, 89% experienced that parent smoking during their lifetime.

Percentages of Mom’s Reports of Their Own Smoking Compared to Offspring’s Reports of Their Mom’s Smoking % of Moms Who Answered Yes % of Offspring Who Answered Yes If Mom Just Tried Smoking 41.04%14.24% If Mom Has Ever Smoked 82.33%62.56% If Mom Is a Regular Smoker 58.77%48.88% If Mom Is a Heavy Smoker 44.23%32.99% Note: Offspring used was the oldest offspring in a family

Percentages of Dad’s Reports of Their Own Smoking Compared to Offspring’s Reports of Their Dad’s Smoking % of Dads Who Answered Yes % of Offspring Who Answered Yes If Dad Just Tried Smoking 19.06%8.25% If Dad Has Ever Smoked 96.79%83.93% If Dad Is a Regular Smoker 80.94%77.35% If Dad Is a Heavy Smoker 61.43%62.74% Note: Offspring used was the oldest offspring in a family

Variable Name Mom Dad If Just Tried Smoking r=.46r=.62 If Ever Smoked r=.77r=. 78 If Regular Smoker r=.96 If Heavy Smokerr=.62r=.46 Correlation Between All Offspring’s Reports of Parental Smoking Habits (n=1732) and Parental Self Report (mom n=515, dad n=374)

Variable NameMomDad If Just Tried Smoking r=.48r=.49 If Ever Smoked r=.77r=.70 If Regular Smoker r=.96r=.97 If Heavy Smokerr=.63r=.35 All Female Offspring’s Reports of Parental Smoking Habits (n=886) Compared With Parent’s Self Report (mom n=515, dad n=374)

Variable NameMomDad If Just Tried Smoking r=.44r=.72 If Ever Smoked r=.78r=.86 If Regular Smoker r=.95 If Heavy Smokerr=.61r=.57 All Male Offspring’s Reports of Parental Smoking Habits (n=846) Compared With Parent’s Self Report (mom n=515, dad n=374)

All Offspring Offspring with history of Reg. Smoking If Just Tried Smoking r=.46r=.47 If Ever Smoked r=.77 If Regular Smoker r=.96 If Heavy Smokerr=.62 Reports of Parental Smoking Habits by Offspring with a History of Regular Smoking (n=1595)Compared With Mom’s Self Report (n=515)

All Offspring Offspring with history of Reg. Smoking If Just Tried Smoking r=.62r=.48 If Ever Smoked r=.78r=.79 If Regular Smoker r=.96r=.95 If Heavy Smokerr=.46r=.43 Reports of Parental Smoking Habits by Offspring with a History of Regular Smoking (n=1595)Compared With Dad’s Self Report (n=374)

Reports of Parental Smoking Habits by Offspring Who Were Exposed To Smoking in the Home (n=1121) Compared With Mom’s Self Report (n=515) Variable Name All Offspring Mom If Just Tried Smoking r=.46r=.52 If Ever Smoked r=.77r=.85 If Regular Smoker r=.96r=.95 If Heavy Smokerr=.62r=.59

Variable Name All Offspring Dad If Just Tried Smoking r=.62r=.70 If Ever Smoked r=.78r=.82 If Regular Smoker r=.96r=.88 If Heavy Smokerr=.46r=.44 Reports of Parental Smoking Habits by Offspring Who Were Exposed To Smoking in the Home (n=1121)Compared With Dad’s Self Report (n=374)

Twins ReportSiblings Report If Just Tried Smoking r=.51r=.57 If Ever Smoked r=.90 If Regular Smoker r=.97 If Heavy Smokerr=.73r=.72 Do Twins Have a Stronger Correlation (# of twin pairs, n=380) Than Siblings (n=1632) in Report of Mom’s Smoking Habits?

Do Twins Have a Stronger Correlation (# of twin pairs, n=380) Than Siblings (n=1632) in Report of Dad’s Smoking Habits? Twins ReportSiblings Report If Just Tried Smoking r=.54r=.51 If Ever Smoked r=.89 If Regular Smoker r=.95 If Heavy Smokerr=.64r=.55

Are Female Siblings (n=918) More Reliable Than Male Siblings (n=697) in Report of Mom’s Smoking Habits? Female SiblingsMale Siblings If Just Tried Smokingr=.54r=.63 If Ever Smokedr=.92r=.89 If Regular Smokerr=.98r=.94 If Heavy Smokerr=.70r=.81

Female SiblingsMale Siblings If Just Tried Smokingr=.55r=.51 If Ever Smokedr=.92r=.88 If Regular Smokerr=.95r=.94 If Heavy Smokerr=.63r =.58 Are Female Siblings (n=918) More Reliable Than Male Siblings (n=697) in Report of Dad’s Smoking Habits?

Does Having a Parent With A Drinking Problem (n=520) or Who Drinks Excessively (n=576) Affect Reliability with Mom’s Responses? AllDrinking problemDrinks Excessively If Just Tried Smoking r=.46r=.49r=.44 If Ever Smoked r=.77r=.92r=.85 If Regular Smoker r=.96r=.95r=.93 If Heavy Smokerr=.62r=.74r=.76

Does Having a Parent With A Drinking Problem (n=520) or Who Drinks Excessively (n=576) Affect Reliability With Dad’s Responses? AllDrinking problemDrinks Excessively If Just Tried Smoking r=.62r=.64r=.71 If Ever Smoked r=. 78r=.99 If Regular Smoker r=.96r=.92r=.94 If Heavy Smokerr=.46r=.51

 For all offspring, reliability is moderate to high in all instances except for dad’s history of regular smoking.  Female offspring were less likely to correctly report their father’s self-reported smoking habits compared to male offspring.  Female and male offspring were similar in report of their mother’s smoking behaviors. Conclusions

Conclusions (continued)  There was not a subsequent change in reliability of responses if the offspring was a regular smoker.  There is no substantial difference in reliability if the offspring was exposed to smoking in the home.  The reliability of twin’s report of parental smoking behaviors is similar to that of other siblings.

 If offspring reported at least one parent with a drinking problem or that drank excessively, their responses concerning the parent’s smoking behavior were more highly correlated with the parent’s self- reported smoking behavior. Since alcohol problems are correlated with smoking habits, offspring might have a heightened awareness of their parent’s smoking. Conclusions (continued)

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