Shared and unique risk factors for tobacco use among rural versus urban adolescents

Researchers have proposed numerous factors that may contribute to rural adolescents' heightened risk for tobacco use. Some of these include well-known risk factors for tobacco use, whereas others concern factors unique to rural populations, reflecting norms and values (“rural culture”) that accept and encourage tobacco use. This study aimed to test a broad range of tobacco-use risk factors to determine which were a) universal risk factors for both urban and rural adolescents vs. b) unique risk factors for rural adolescents. Data came from a prospective cohort study of 1220 adolescent males in Ohio who were aged 11–16 (average = 14 years) when surveyed at baseline (2015–2016). Follow-up surveys occurred every 6 months. The present study examined tobacco-use outcomes—prevalent use and incident use—by the two-year follow-up (2017–2018). Findings indicated a higher prevalence of ever-use of cigarette and smokeless tobacco among rural, vs. urban, adolescents at baseline. By the two-year follow-up, the urban/rural difference was attenuated but remained. Stratified multivariable logistic regression indicated that some baseline risk factors were associated with subsequent tobacco use for both rural and urban adolescents. Having an adult tobacco user in the home (for prevalent use) and susceptibility to a male family member offer of tobacco products (for both prevalent and incident use) were associated with tobacco use only for rural adolescents. These findings align with qualitative work demonstrating that masculinity and an intergenerational tobacco culture are important to male adolescents. This unique rural profile should be considered when developing prevention efforts. •Baseline ever-use of tobacco was higher among rural vs. urban adolescents (M age = 14.1).•By the two-year follow-up, the urban/rural difference was attenuated but remained.•Stratified multivariable analyses examined how risk factors predicted subsequent use.•Only for rural was having an adult tobacco user in the home a risk factor.•Only for rural was susceptibility to a male family member offer of tobacco a risk factor.•Findings align with qualitative work on an intergenerational “rural culture”.