Acculturation and daily cigarette use among Mexican-origin youth: The moderating role of executive functions

Wen Wen; Ka Ip; Sujin Lee; Belem G Lopez; Akihito Kamata; Priscilla Lui; Su Yeong Kim

doi:10.1016/j.josat.2022.208948

Acculturation and daily cigarette use among Mexican-origin youth: The moderating role of executive functions

J Subst Use Addict Treat. 2023 Oct:153:208948. doi: 10.1016/j.josat.2022.208948. Epub 2023 Jan 11.

Authors

Wen Wen¹, Ka Ip², Sujin Lee³, Belem G Lopez⁴, Akihito Kamata⁵, Priscilla Lui⁶, Su Yeong Kim⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, United States of America. Electronic address: wenwen@utexas.edu.
² University of Minnesota Institute of Child Development, United States of America.
³ University of Michigan, United States of America.
⁴ National Institutes of Health, United States of America.
⁵ Southern Methodist University, United States of America.
⁶ Southern Methodist University, United States of America; University of Washington, United States of America.
⁷ Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, United States of America.

Abstract

Introduction: Acculturation and enculturation have been conceptualized, respectively, as risk and protective factors for cigarette use. Although acculturation/enculturation orientations are often studied as stable characteristics, they represent a dynamic process influenced by individuals' social environments and can fluctuate across time. Therefore, investigating how youth actively navigate their acculturation and enculturation beliefs and behaviors on a day-to-day basis can advance scientific understanding of factors related to cigarette use. Executive functions, including inhibitory control, shifting, and working memory, are robust predictors of smoking (e.g., cigarette use). However, we know little about the protective role of executive functions on the daily level associations between acculturation/enculturation and cigarette use among Mexican-origin youth.

Objectives: In a low-income Mexican-origin youth sample (M = 16.94, SD = 1.01; 52 % female), this study examined within-person associations between daily acculturation/enculturation and daily cigarette use and the moderating role of individual-level executive functions.

Method: We captured the daily fluctuations of acculturation/enculturation and smoking by utilizing data from a 4-day daily diary. The study assessed inhibitory control, shifting, and working memory using behavioral paradigms.

Results: A multilevel logistic moderation model revealed statistically significant interactions between acculturation (but not enculturation) and all executive function skills predicting cigarette use. Higher daily acculturation levels were related to greater odds of daily cigarette use only for youth with lower levels of executive function skills.

Conclusion: Findings suggest that interventions aimed at improving executive functions may protect Mexican-origin youth from the possible adverse effect of acculturation on cigarette use.

Keywords: Acculturation; Cigarette use; Executive functions; Latinx youth; Protective factor.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Acculturation*
Adolescent
Executive Function*
Female
Humans
Male
Memory, Short-Term
Smoking / epidemiology
Tobacco Smoking

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding