Abstract
More than 60% of Bosnian refugees in the United States may be current smokers. Examining health beliefs can provide insight
into smoking behaviors in this community. Four hundred ninety-nine Bosnians were interviewed about health beliefs and personal
health risks related to smoking. ANOVA was used to compare current, former, and never smokers. General health beliefs were
significantly different by smoking status with medium effect sizes (P < .001; η2 = 0.04–0.06); current smokers were less likely to agree that smokers live shorter lives and that smokers are more likely
to get heart disease. Significant differences with large effect sizes (P < .001; η2 = 0.11–0.29) were found in perception of personal risk of lung cancer and heart disease among current, former, and never
smokers. Current smokers perceived their own health risks as less severe than those of other smokers. High smoking rates and
smokers’ optimism related to health indicate that culturally tailored educational and cessation interventions are needed for
Bosnian refugee communities.
into smoking behaviors in this community. Four hundred ninety-nine Bosnians were interviewed about health beliefs and personal
health risks related to smoking. ANOVA was used to compare current, former, and never smokers. General health beliefs were
significantly different by smoking status with medium effect sizes (P < .001; η2 = 0.04–0.06); current smokers were less likely to agree that smokers live shorter lives and that smokers are more likely
to get heart disease. Significant differences with large effect sizes (P < .001; η2 = 0.11–0.29) were found in perception of personal risk of lung cancer and heart disease among current, former, and never
smokers. Current smokers perceived their own health risks as less severe than those of other smokers. High smoking rates and
smokers’ optimism related to health indicate that culturally tailored educational and cessation interventions are needed for
Bosnian refugee communities.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-7
- DOI 10.1007/s10903-011-9511-4
- Authors
- Jenine K. Harris, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, Campus Box 1196, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
- Ajlina Karamehic-Muratovic, Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Stephanie H. Herbers, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, Campus Box 1196, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
- Sarah Moreland-Russell, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, Campus Box 1196, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
- Robin Cheskin, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, Campus Box 1196, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
- Kari A. Lindberg, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, Campus Box 1196, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
- Journal Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
- Online ISSN 1557-1920
- Print ISSN 1557-1912