Pathways to nicotine dependence in African American and Puerto Rican young adults

This investigation examined the pathways to nicotine dependence among a sample of inner city African-American and Puerto Rican young adults ( mean age 26.1 years, SD = 1.4 years). Four hundred and seventy-five young adults were interviewed. The findings based on structural equation models showed that family conflicts, parental tobacco use, and weak ethnic identity were associated with vulnerable personality attributes and drug use, which in turn were related to nicotine dependence. Prevention strategies in young adults aimed at family conflicts, parental tobacco use, vulnerable personality attributes, drug use, weak ethnic identity, and socioeconomic status should be effective in reducing risks for nicotine dependence.