Cotton-Laws also noted there is no statistically significant relationship between gender and reasons for smoking; however, there is a statistically significant relationship between race and reason for smoking. African-Americans are more likely to smoke for sensation or no reason, whereas Whites and multiracial persons are likely to use smoking as a social tool.
College students comprise the largest group of Americans aged 18 to 24 years. Evidence from national data reported by the Centers for Disease Control indicate that college years are a critical period when young adults are significantly influenced to adopt or renounce the use of tobacco and smoking.
"Previously, data collected only targeted the majority population and there has not been much data regarding the minority population," said Brown. "This is the first extensive study regarding the use of tobacco among college students at HBCUs."
Respiratory and cardiovascular diseases are some of the health disparities that exist among African Americans, which are contributed from tobacco use.
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