Increase in smoking/tobacco-related diseases among the Hispanic population calls for an examination of its use among this population. This study examined the relationship between gender, level of cultural identification, migrant status, and grade level and tobacco use and perception of its harn among Mexican American youth. Results showed males more likely to use cigarettes (occasional and daily) and smokeless tobacco than females when grade, cultural identification, and migrant status of parents are held constant. No gender effect was found for lifetime cigarette use. The odds of using cigarettes and smokeless tobacco increase substantially across grades. Effects were foundfor Mexican American/Spanish and AnglolWhite American cultural identification and daily cigarette use. Youths who belonged to nonmigrant families or who identified with a traditional Mexican American/Spanish culture were more likely to consider regular tobacco use as harmful. These and other findings are discussed from the perspective offuture research and prevention and intervention efforts.
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