Social Learning Theory and Tobacco Behaviors – A Tale of Two Studies Anne P. Hubbell New Mexico State University

Major Variables from Theory Social Incentives Social Incentives Self-Efficacy Self-Efficacy

Study One 466 Participants (320 women, 147 men) 466 Participants (320 women, 147 men) Age: M = 23.22, Range = Age: M = 23.22, Range = Ethnicity – Primarily Caucasian and Hispanic: Ethnicity – Primarily Caucasian and Hispanic: Caucasian (n = 110, 42.97%) Caucasian (n = 110, 42.97%) Hispanic (n = 93, 36.33%) Hispanic (n = 93, 36.33%)

Social Incentive Findings Friends Encouraging Scale = Two items (α =.84) Friends Encouraging Scale = Two items (α =.84) Women: M = 1.68 (SD =.94) Women: M = 1.68 (SD =.94) Men: M = 1.79 (SD =.97) Men: M = 1.79 (SD =.97) But, differential effects on smoking behaviors But, differential effects on smoking behaviors

Social Incentives – “Coolness” Four Items (α =.79) Four Items (α =.79) Women: M = 1.66 (SD =.68) Women: M = 1.66 (SD =.68) Men: M = 1.88 (SD =.74) Men: M = 1.88 (SD =.74) Both, below neutral midpoint but not different from each other Both, below neutral midpoint but not different from each other

Social Incentives - Coolness Women Women Smoke more cigarettes every day Smoke more cigarettes every day Smoke every day Smoke every day Consider themselves to be a “social” smoker Consider themselves to be a “social” smoker Have tried smoking Have tried smoking Will try it again Will try it again Men Men No effects for “Coolness” perceptions for men

Behaviors Influenced By Friends Encouraging Smoking Women Women Smoke total of 100 or more cigarettes in their life Smoke total of 100 or more cigarettes in their life Smoke more a day Smoke more a day Smoke every day Smoke every day Consider themselves to be smokers and “social smokers” Consider themselves to be smokers and “social smokers” Try smoking if they have not already Try smoking if they have not already Try smoking again if they have tried it Try smoking again if they have tried it Men Men Smoke a total of 100 or more cigarettes in their life Consider themselves to be a “social smoker” but not a “smoker”

Influence of Siblings Similar Women: Women: Have tried smoking Have tried smoking Smoked more than 100 cigarettes in their life Smoked more than 100 cigarettes in their life Smoked every day* Smoked every day* Have smoked at least one a day for last 30 days Have smoked at least one a day for last 30 days Consider themselves “social” and regular “smokers” Consider themselves “social” and regular “smokers” If they have not smoked, likely to try it If they have not smoked, likely to try it Men: Men: Have tried smoking Smoked more than 100 cigarettes in their life Smoked more cigarettes per day than those who do not have smoking siblings* Have smoked at least one a day for last 30 days Consider themselves “social” and regular “smokers” If they have not smoked, likely to try it

Self-Efficacy Two Items (α =.61) Two Items (α =.61) Women: M = 1.41 (SD =.72) Women: M = 1.41 (SD =.72) Men: M = 1.58 (SD =.85) Men: M = 1.58 (SD =.85) Both, below neutral midpoint but not different from each other Both, below neutral midpoint but not different from each other

Women were more likely to: Have tried smoking Have tried smoking Social vs. Regular Smokers Social vs. Regular Smokers Both women and men: Both women and men: Smoked more than 100 cigarettes in their life Smoked more than 100 cigarettes in their life Smoke every day Smoke every day Smoke at least one cigarette a day for last 30 days Smoke at least one cigarette a day for last 30 days Smoke more a day Smoke more a day If they have not or have smoked, more likely to try it If they have not or have smoked, more likely to try it

Study Two 520 Total (203 men, 312 women) 520 Total (203 men, 312 women) 266 (51% call themselves “Hispanic”) 266 (51% call themselves “Hispanic”) Coolness (3 items, α =.70) Coolness (3 items, α =.70) Friends Encouraging Smoking (3 items, α =.77) Friends Encouraging Smoking (3 items, α =.77) Self-Efficacy (2 items, α =.69) Self-Efficacy (2 items, α =.69)

Women vs. Men, Again! Women: Women: Self-Efficacy Self-Efficacy Refusal (M = 1.42) Refusal (M = 1.42) Social Incentives Social Incentives Coolness (M = 1.61) Coolness (M = 1.61) Friends (M = 1.55) Friends (M = 1.55) Men Men Self-Efficacy Refusal (M = 1.51) Social Incentives Coolness (M = 1.88) Friends (M = 1.89) ANOVA Analysis shows no significant influence of sex on smoking, overall Women: All variables influenced women to have tried smoking, moreso than men, otherwise all other behaviors were influenced similarly

Conclusions – What does this mean? Women and men are strongly influenced by variables from Social Learning Theory Women and men are strongly influenced by variables from Social Learning Theory But, different behaviors may be influenced But, different behaviors may be influenced Target wisely Target wisely