Gender, body image, and attitudes about tobacco in the United States-Mexico border region: Implications for individualized prevention and treatment efforts for adolescents and emerging adults

Many people smoke to control weight and/or reduce stress. Previous studies have shown a link between body mass index (BMI) and reasons for smoking among addicted adults. Our 2006-2007 data extended previous research to include a gender comparison in a diverse sample of 142 college students in the urban United States-Mexico border region. Analyses of variance revealed gender differences among participants of normal weight for smoking to alleviate negative emotion and to build self-confidence. Responses of overweight males were similar to those of both normal- and over-weight females. Implications and future directions for smoking prevention/treatment among adolescents are discussed.