Disparities in Smokefree and Vapefree Home Rules and Smokefree Policy Attitudes Based on Housing Type and Cigarette Smoking Status, United States, 2019

Abstract

This study examined variations in cigarette smoking status, home smoking and vaping rules, and attitudes toward smoking rules among U.S. adults. We analyzed data from the 2019 U.S. Census Bureau's Current Population Survey Supplements (n = 40,296 adults) and calculated weighted prevalence estimates of adult cigarette smoking based on housing type. In 2019, multi-unit housing (MUH) residents who currently smoked were predominantly residents of privately rented housing (66.9%), followed by privately owned (17.6%) and public housing (15.5%). MUH residents who currently smoked had the highest proportions of allowing smoking (26.7%) or vaping (29.1%) anywhere inside their homes and were least likely to support rules allowing smoking inside all MUH apartments or living areas. In the adjusted models, MUH residents with a current smoking status were 92% less likely to have a complete smoking ban. More than one in four MUH residents with a current smoking status allowed all smoking inside the home and supported allowing smoking inside all MUH apartment or living areas, reinforcing how MUH residents may be at higher risk of experiencing secondhand smoke or aerosol exposure, or incursions within their places of residence. Our results can inform the development, implementation, and sustainment of strategies to reduce exposures from tobacco and nicotine products in all living environments.

Keywords: electronic cigarettes; multi-unit housing; residents; secondhand or environmental exposure; smoking; tobacco policies; vaping.

Figure 1

Home smoking rules and support for indoor multi-unit housing smoking bans among multi-unit housing and single-unit housing residents based on housing tenure and smoking status, 2019. Notes: 1. Percentages are weighted. 2. p-values for all chi-squared tests were statistically significant at p < 0.0001 (see Supplementary Tables S3 and S4 for details). 3. Number of respondents (unweighted) based on housing tenure—multi-unit housing: public, n = 873; privately owned, n = 2520; privately rented, n = 5865; single-unit housing: public, n = 185; privately owned, n = 24,720; privately rented, n = 4567. 4. Number of respondents (unweighted) by smoking status—multi-unit housing: Never smoked, n = 6421; Formerly smoked, n = 1756; Currently smoking, n = 1069; single-unit housing: Never smoked, n = 19,746; Formerly smoked; n = 6421. Currently smoking, n = 3252. 5. Multi-unit housing is defined as two or more housing units that share a wall or ceiling. Single-unit housing refers to independent housing units such as single-family homes, mobile homes, and other housing units that do not share a wall or ceiling. 6. Home smoking rules determined by analyzing responses to the following TUS-CPS question: Which statement best describes the rules about smoking inside your home? (FR: Read if necessary; “Home” is where you live. “Rules” include any unwritten “Rules” and pertain to all people whether or not they reside in the home or are visitors, workmen, etc. “Smoking” includes cigars, regular and hookah pipes, as well as cigarettes). (1) No one is allowed to smoke anywhere inside your home. (2) Smoking is allowed in some places or at some times inside your home. (3) Smoking is permitted anywhere inside your home. 7. Support for indoor smoking bans determined by analyzing responses to the following TUS-CPS question: In buildings with multiple apartments or living areas, do you THINK that smoking should be (1) Allowed inside all apartments or living areas, (2) Allowed inside some apartments, (3) Not allowed at all inside apartments? * Rent includes no cash rent or rent without payment.

Figure 2

Home vaping rules among multi-unit housing and single-unit housing residents based on housing tenure and smoking status, 2019. Notes: 1. Percentages are weighted. 2. p-values for all chi-squared tests were statistically significant at p < 0.0001 (see Supplementary Tables S3 and S4 for details). 3. Number of respondents (unweighted) based on housing tenure—multi-unit housing: public, n = 873; privately owned, n = 2520; privately rented, n = 5865; single-unit housing: public, n = 185; privately owned, n = 24,720; privately rented, n = 4567. 4. Number of respondents (unweighted) based on smoking status—multi-unit housing: Never smoked, n = 6421; Formerly smoked, n = 1756; Currently smoking, n = 1069; single-unit housing: Never smoked, n = 19,746; Formerly smoked; n = 6421. Currently smoking, n = 3252. 5. Multi-unit housing is defined as two or more housing units that share a wall or ceiling. Single-unit housing refers to independent housing units such as single-family homes, mobile homes, and other housing units that do not share a wall or ceiling. 6. Home vaping rules determined by analyzing responses to the following TUS-CPS question: Which statement best describes the rules about vaping or using e-cigarettes inside your home? (FR: Read if necessary; “Home” is where you live. “Rules” include any unwritten “Rules” and pertain to all people whether or not they reside in the home or are visitors, workmen, etc. “Vaping” includes use of e-cigarettes, vape-pens, hookah-pens, ehookahs, e-vaporizers, vapes, or mods. popular brands in-clude njoy, blu, logic, vuse, and juul (prounounced like “Jewel”)). (1) No one is allowed to vape anywhere inside your home. (2) Vaping is allowed in some places or at some times inside your home. (3) Vaping is permitted anywhere inside your home. * Rent includes no cash rent or rent without payment.