Tingzhong Yang1, Ross Barnett2, Shuhan Jiang3, Lingwei Yu3, Hong Xian4, Jun Ying5, Weijun Zheng6. 1. Center for Tobacco Control Research, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China. Electronic address: tingzhongyang@zju.edu.cn. 2. Department of Geography, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand. 3. Center for Tobacco Control Research, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China. 4. Department of Biostatistics, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO 63104-1314, USA. 5. Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA. 6. Department of Preventive Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Although gender differences in smoking have received much attention, few studies have explored the importance of contextual effects on male and female smoking rates. The aim of this study is to examine the association between variations in city-level sex ratios and gender differences in smoking in China. METHODS: Participants included 16,866 urban residents, who were identified through multi-stage sampling conducted in 21 Chinese cities. RESULTS: The study found that, independent of personal characteristics, cities with more males had higher male smoking rates and lower female rates. CONCLUSIONS: Our research underscores the importance of city-level contextual effects in understanding gender differences in smoking in China.
OBJECTIVE: Although gender differences in smoking have received much attention, few studies have explored the importance of contextual effects on male and female smoking rates. The aim of this study is to examine the association between variations in city-level sex ratios and gender differences in smoking in China. METHODS:Participants included 16,866 urban residents, who were identified through multi-stage sampling conducted in 21 Chinese cities. RESULTS: The study found that, independent of personal characteristics, cities with more males had higher male smoking rates and lower female rates. CONCLUSIONS: Our research underscores the importance of city-level contextual effects in understanding gender differences in smoking in China.