Shifting Social Climate of Tobacco

Control in Mississippi,

2000 to 2004

Robert McMillen SSRC

Social Science Research CenterMississippi State University

PurposeTo monitor changes in the social climate of

tobacco control over the five years that Mississippi has implemented statewide tobacco control programs

Tobacco Control Objectives• Long-term: Reduce consumption and

prevalence of cigarette smoking

• Numerous initial and intermediate objectives: Social Climate Indicators

The Social Climate for

Tobacco Control

Work

Education

Familyand

FriendshipGroups

An Institutional Approach

Health &

Medical Care

Mass Culture &

Communication

Recreation, Sports & Leisure

Government &

Political Order

Social Climate Survey - Tobacco Control

• Previously validated questions drawn from state and national tobacco control surveys– Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System– Tobacco Use Supplement – Current

Population Survey– California Adult Tobacco Survey

• As well as other questions developed to measure attitudes, practices, and knowledge

Purpose• Provide timely, comprehensive data about

tobacco control attitudes and practices

• Objectively measure, and ultimately monitor, progress towards intermediate objectives

• Annual cross-sectional assessments of the social climate: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, & 2004

Sample Characteristics• Simple Random Sample of Adults

• Computer assisted telephone interviewers

• 2000: N = 803; Cooperation Rate = 85%

• 2004: N = 905; Cooperation Rate = 96%

Changes from 2000-2004

• 57% of social climate indicators improved from 2000 to 2004

• Support is increasing for restrictions on smoking in public places

• Smoking restrictions are becoming more prevalent in some public settings

Improvements in the Social Climate

• 45 indicators were included on both the 2000 and 2004 Mississippi SCS-TC

• Overall, 58% of indicators demonstrated statistically significant improvement over the past 5 years

Improvements• 12 of 16 (75%) of practices improved

• 11 of 24 (46%) of attitudes and social norms improved

• 3 of 5 (60%) of knowledge indicators improved

Family & Friendship Groups

• 57% of indicators improved over past 5 years

• Smoking is not allowed at home, 69% to 75%

• Smoking is not allowed at home when children are present, 78% to 91%

• Parents should not allow under 18 youth to smoke, 88% to 94%

Education• Only 1 indicator was included in both 2000

and 2004 survey

• No change in the belief that students should be punished for smoking at school, 95-97%

Government and Politics

• 20% of indicators improved over past 5 years

• Percent of adults who believe that stores should be penalized for the sale of tobacco to minors, 96% to 98%

Work• 80% of indicators improved over the past 5 years

• Adults who believe that smoking should not be allowed in any area at work, 62% to 74%

• Smoking is not allowed at work, 53% to 74%

• Employer offers a cessation program, 15% to 20%

Health & Medical Care• 60% of indicators improved over past 5 years

• Hospitals should be smokefree, 76% to 90%

• Cigarettes are very dangerous, 83% to 88%

• Cigars are very dangerous, 75% to 80%

Recreation• 77% of indicators improved over the past 5 years

• More adults believe that malls, convenience stores, restaurants, bars, and indoor sporting events should be smoke-free

• With the exception of bars, more adults report that these places are now smoke-free in their community

Mass Communication• 20% of indicators have improved over the

past 5 years

• Tobacco ads are not acceptable at sporting or cultural events, 60% to 65%

Long-Term Objectives

Percent Current Smokers

1999 2003

Public High School Students 32.5 23.4

Public Middle School Students

23.0 11.0

Private High School Students 36.6 26.3

Private Middle School Students

14.22000

6.2

Mississippi per capita consumption

107.0103.9

97.293.9

91.5 91.2

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

per capita consumption

Adult Smoking Prevalence

• BRFSS estimates were 23.0% in 1999 and 25.6% in 2003

• But other state adults surveys suggest that prevalence may be lower

Social Science Research Center,

Mississippi State Universitywww.ssrc.msstate.edu/socialclimate