The Role of Acculturation in the Attitudes, Norms, and Expectancies of Hispanic Smokers

Data from 263 Hispanic smokers in the San Francisco area showed that, in general, among the highly acculturated, attitudes, norms, and expectancies toward smoking resembled those held by an equivalent group of white non-Hispanic smokers. Level of acculturation had no significant effect on generalized attitudes toward smoking, but it was associated with the level of certainty with which five stereotypes were assigned to smokers. Acculturation level also affected the perceived normative influence of parents and the willingness to follow the desires of parents and physician. Acculturation had a more significant effect on discriminating the importance assigned to antecedents and consequences of smoking; responses of the highly acculturated again resembled those of the white non-Hispanics. The implications of these findings in the development of culturally appropriate smoking cessation materials for less acculturated Hispanics are discussed.