Hispanic/Latinx Ethnic Subgroup Differences in Sociodemographic, Sociocultural, and Smoking Characteristics in a Cessation Trial: An Exploratory Study

Abstract Introduction Hispanic/Latinx smokers in the United States are often treated as a homogeneous group. However, population-based studies suggest that cigarette use differs among Hispanic/Latinx subgroups by sociodemographic or sociocultural characteristics. This secondary analysis aimed to advance the limited literature by examining differences in smoking-related variables. Aims and Methods We used baseline data from a randomized controlled trial testing a self-help Spanish-language smoking cessation intervention. Puerto Rican (PR), Mexican, and Cuban, the three largest Hispanic/Latinx subgroups in the sample (N = 1028), were first compared on sociodemographic and sociocultural variables (acculturation and familism). Primary analyses assessed subgroup differences in cigarette use variables (eg, cigarettes per day [CPD], nicotine dependence [Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence], and daily smoking) and smoking-related cognitive constructs (motivation to quit, smoking outcome expectancies, and abstinence self-efficacy) controlling for sociodemographic and sociocultural variables. Additional analyses explored differences between men and women within subgroups. Results Mexicans exhibited the lowest levels of daily smoking (90% vs. 95% Cubans and 96% PR; p = .001), CPD (M = 13.5, SD = 9.5 vs. M = 20.1, SD = 9.9 Cubans and M = 16.7, SD = 10.1 PR; p = .016), and nicotine dependence (M = 4.2, SD = 2.3 vs. M = 6.0, SD = 2.1 Cubans and M = 5.7, SD = 2.2 PR; p < .001), with no differences between PRs and Cubans. Within-subgroup comparisons between men and women showed the most differences among PRs (eg, men were more nicotine dependent [M = 6.0, SD = 1.9] than women [M = 5.4, SD = 2.3; p = .041]) and Cubans (eg, men smoked more CPD [M = 22.2, SD = 12.2] than women [M = 19.3, SD = 12.0; p = .042]), and the fewest among Mexicans. Conclusions Findings support heterogeneity within Hispanic/Latinx smokers and highlight the potential utility of examining sociodemographic, sociocultural, and smoking characteristics important for developing salient cessation interventions. Implications Findings demonstrate that treatment-seeking Hispanic/Latinx smokers in the United States differ in sociodemographic, sociocultural, and smoking-related variables (cigarette use and smoking-related cognitive constructs) by subgroup (ie, PR, Mexican, and Cuban) and within subgroups by sex. These differences suggest that heterogeneity among subgroups should be considered when developing