The added value of accounting for activity space when examining the association between tobacco retailer availability and smoking among young adults
Article [Accepted Manuscript]
Abstract(s)
Background: Despite a declining prevalence in many countries, smoking rates remain consistently
high among young adults. Targeting contextual influences on smoking, such as the availability of
tobacco retailers, is one promising avenue of intervention. Most studies have focused on residential
or school neighbourhoods without accounting for other settings where individuals spend time, i.e.,
their activity space. We investigated the association between tobacco retailer availability in the
residential neighbourhood and in the activity space and smoking status. Methods: Cross-sectional
baseline data from 1,994 young adults (age 18-25) participating in the Interdisciplinary Study of
Inequalities in Smoking (Montreal, Canada, 2011-2012) were analyzed. Residential and activity
locations served to derive two measures of tobacco retailer availability: counts within 500-meter
buffers and proximity to the nearest retailer. Prevalence ratios for the association between each
tobacco retailer measure and smoking status were estimated using log-binomial regression. Results:
Participants encountering high numbers of tobacco retailers in their residential neighbourhood, and
both medium and high retailer counts in their activity space, were more likely to smoke compared to
those exposed to fewer retailers. While residential proximity was not associated with smoking, we
found 36% and 42% higher smoking prevalences among participants conducting activities within
medium and high proximity to tobacco retailers compared to those conducting activities further
from such outlets. Conclusion: This study adds to the sparse literature on contextual correlates of
smoking among young adults, and illustrates the added value of considering individuals’ activity
space in contextual studies of smoking.
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