Darker skin color is associated with a lower likelihood of smoking cessation among males but not females.

ABSTRACT: Darker skin color is associated with discrimination and unfair treatment and may contribute to persisting health disparities. This study examined whether darker skin color was associated with smoking cessation and whether this association was moderated by sex and race. This study also explored whether biological and psychosocial factors, including nicotine and cotinine concentrations, discrimination, distrust, and neuroticism, mediated this association. The data for this study came from a prospective smoking cessation intervention that included 224 Black and 225 White adults from Kansas City, Missouri. Skin color was assessed using a DermaSpectrometer to measure melanin contained within the skin. Point prevalence smoking abstinence was biochemically-verified and assessed at weeks 4 and 26.

SUBMITTER: Alexander AC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6921999 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature