Shervin Assari - Department of Family Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, USA
Mohsen Bazargan - Department of Family Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, USA

Introduction: Educational attainment and poverty status are two strong socioeconomic status (SES) indicators that protect individuals against exposure to second-hand smoke. Minorities’ Diminished Returns (MDRs), however, refer to smaller protective effects of SES indicators among ethnic minority groups such as Hispanics and Blacks, compared to non-Hispanic Whites. This study explored ethnic differences in the effects of educational attainment and poverty status on second-hand smoke exposure in the homes of American adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study included ۱۸,۲۷۴ non-smoking adults who had participated in the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH; ۲۰۱۳). The independent variables were educational attainment and poverty status. The dependent variable was second-hand smoke exposure at home. Age and region of residence were the covariates. Ethnicity was the moderator. Results: Overall, individuals with a higher educational attainment (odds ratio [OR] = ۰.۷۶, ۹۵% CI = ۰.۷۴-۰.۷۹) and those who lived out of poverty (OR = ۰.۵۶, ۹۵% CI =۰.۵۱-۰.۶۲) had lower odds of second-hand smoke exposure at home. Hispanic ethnicity showed significant interactions with both SES indicators, suggesting that the protective effects of education and poverty on second-hand smoke exposure at home are smaller for Hispanics (ORs for interaction with education and poverty status = ۱.۳۰ and ۱.۲۶, P < ۰.۰۵) than for Non-Hispanics. Conclusion: In the US, high SES Hispanics remain at high risk of exposure to second-hand smoke at home despite a high education and income. High SES better reduces environmental exposures for non-Hispanic than for Hispanic individuals.

Population Groups, ethnicity, Socioeconomic status, Second Hand Exposure