More Hispanic women are smoking cigarettes in the United States than they do in their native countries, most likely due to cultural influences. Similar smoking increases are not seen in Hispanic men, according to a new systematic review of studies.
The exact reasons for the increase are unclear, according to the review in the August issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, but studies show a clear association between acculturation to the United States and higher smoking rates. The researchers define acculturation as changes in values, attitudes and behavior in individuals as a result of continuous interaction with people of a different ethnic group.
Review co-author Marc B. Schenker, M.D., M.P.H., of the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of California, says that the change in culture for Mexican women who relocate to the United States is greater than it is for men. "Men in Mexico are pretty independent and their culture facilitates their independence," he says. "When men come to the U.S., you don't see a dramatic change. But women often assert their independence. Smoking may also be a status issue in that it shows sophistication and an income level that can afford cigarettes."