Abstract
Introduction: Policy makers should understand the attitudes and beliefs of their constituents regarding smoke-free air legislation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of selected personal characteristics on attitudes and beliefs about secondhand smoke in Indiana and on support for smoke-free air laws. Methods: Data were obtained from the 2008 Indiana Adult Tobacco Survey of 2,140 adults and included 11 sociodemographic variables. Chi-square and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to test for significant associations between sociodemographic characteristics and support for statewide or community smoke-free air legislation. Results: Most respondents (72.3%) indicated that they supported laws making work places smoke-free. After adjusting for the effects of the other variables, 3 were found to be significant predictors of support: being a never or former smoker, being female, and being aware of the health hazards of secondhand smoke. Age, race/ethnicity, income, urban or rural county of residence, employment status, and having children in the household were not significant when adjusting for the other characteristics. Conclusion: Most Indiana residents support smoke-free air legislation for workplaces. The support was constant among most groups across the state, suggesting policy makers would have the backing of their constituents to pass such legislation. The results of this study suggest that efforts to gain support for smoke-free air laws should focus on men, people unaware of the health hazards from secondhand smoke, and smokers and former smokers.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 120091 |
| Journal | Preventing chronic disease |
| Volume | 9 |
| Issue number | 10 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Oct 2012 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Health Policy
Cite this
Effect of personal characteristics on individual support for indoor smoke-free air laws, Indiana, 2008. / Zollinger, Terrell W.; Saywell, Robert M.; Robinson, Joshua J.; Jay, Stephen J.; Spitznagle, Miranda H.
In: Preventing chronic disease, Vol. 9, No. 10, 120091, 10.2012.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Effect of personal characteristics on individual support for indoor smoke-free air laws, Indiana, 2008
AU - Zollinger, Terrell W.
AU - Saywell, Robert M.
AU - Robinson, Joshua J.
AU - Jay, Stephen J.
AU - Spitznagle, Miranda H.
PY - 2012/10
Y1 - 2012/10
N2 - Introduction: Policy makers should understand the attitudes and beliefs of their constituents regarding smoke-free air legislation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of selected personal characteristics on attitudes and beliefs about secondhand smoke in Indiana and on support for smoke-free air laws. Methods: Data were obtained from the 2008 Indiana Adult Tobacco Survey of 2,140 adults and included 11 sociodemographic variables. Chi-square and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to test for significant associations between sociodemographic characteristics and support for statewide or community smoke-free air legislation. Results: Most respondents (72.3%) indicated that they supported laws making work places smoke-free. After adjusting for the effects of the other variables, 3 were found to be significant predictors of support: being a never or former smoker, being female, and being aware of the health hazards of secondhand smoke. Age, race/ethnicity, income, urban or rural county of residence, employment status, and having children in the household were not significant when adjusting for the other characteristics. Conclusion: Most Indiana residents support smoke-free air legislation for workplaces. The support was constant among most groups across the state, suggesting policy makers would have the backing of their constituents to pass such legislation. The results of this study suggest that efforts to gain support for smoke-free air laws should focus on men, people unaware of the health hazards from secondhand smoke, and smokers and former smokers.
AB - Introduction: Policy makers should understand the attitudes and beliefs of their constituents regarding smoke-free air legislation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of selected personal characteristics on attitudes and beliefs about secondhand smoke in Indiana and on support for smoke-free air laws. Methods: Data were obtained from the 2008 Indiana Adult Tobacco Survey of 2,140 adults and included 11 sociodemographic variables. Chi-square and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to test for significant associations between sociodemographic characteristics and support for statewide or community smoke-free air legislation. Results: Most respondents (72.3%) indicated that they supported laws making work places smoke-free. After adjusting for the effects of the other variables, 3 were found to be significant predictors of support: being a never or former smoker, being female, and being aware of the health hazards of secondhand smoke. Age, race/ethnicity, income, urban or rural county of residence, employment status, and having children in the household were not significant when adjusting for the other characteristics. Conclusion: Most Indiana residents support smoke-free air legislation for workplaces. The support was constant among most groups across the state, suggesting policy makers would have the backing of their constituents to pass such legislation. The results of this study suggest that efforts to gain support for smoke-free air laws should focus on men, people unaware of the health hazards from secondhand smoke, and smokers and former smokers.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84870429539&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.5888/pcd9.120091
DO - 10.5888/pcd9.120091
M3 - Article
C2 - 23036612
AN - SCOPUS:84870429539
VL - 9
JO - Preventing chronic disease
JF - Preventing chronic disease
SN - 1545-1151
IS - 10
M1 - 120091
ER -