Disparities among smokers during the COVID-19 pandemic : Examination of COVID-19-related worries by sociodemographic factors in a U.S. Nationally representative survey

© 2022 The Author(s)..

Low-socioeconomic status (SES) and certain racial/ethnic minority groups disproportionately experience tobacco-related disease and death. Underserved populations of smokers may be at disproportionate risk for elevated stress and worry related to basic needs and healthcare during the pandemic, which could impede smoking cessation and exacerbate health disparities. This study examined whether experiences with stress and worry among smokers during the COVID-19 pandemic differed by sociodemographic factors, and whether these factors predicted serious psychological distress (SPD). Data came from an October-November 2020 U.S. national representative survey of 1,223 current cigarette smokers. Analyses examined associations between sociodemographic factors with COVID-19-related worries and past-month SPD. Worry in most domains (e.g., food, housing, finances, healthcare) was more prevalent among participants with less than high school education, income less than $30,000, and those who were unemployed. Women and participants aged 30-44, with income less than $30,000, with less than high school education, not working/disabled, or on Medicaid were more likely to experience SPD. Examined separately, each COVID-19 worry predicted higher likelihood of SPD. In adjusted models, COVID-19 worries about finances (aOR = 2.3) and isolation/loneliness (aOR = 3.0) uniquely predicted SPD. Among U.S. adult smokers during the COVID-19 pandemic, those with lower SES indicated disproportionately high worry about access to basic needs and were more likely to experience SPD. Policies and interventions that address basic needs and mental health among marginalized populations of tobacco users are needed.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2022

Erschienen:

2022

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:28

Enthalten in:

Preventive medicine reports - 28(2022) vom: 28. Aug., Seite 101835

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Fairman, Robert T [VerfasserIn]
Weaver, Scott R [VerfasserIn]
Nyman, Amy L [VerfasserIn]
Popova, Lucy [VerfasserIn]
Massey, Zachary [VerfasserIn]
Reynolds, Reed M [VerfasserIn]
Spears, Claire A [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

COVID-19
Health disparities
Journal Article
Mental health
Tobacco use

Anmerkungen:

Date Revised 16.07.2022

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status PubMed-not-MEDLINE

doi:

10.1016/j.pmedr.2022.101835

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM341299987