Annie Montreuil

Majority Acculturation Orientations Toward “Valued” and “Devalued” Immigrants

The Interactive Acculturation Model was recently proposed to better account for relations between immigrant and dominant host majority members depending on their respective acculturation orientations. The Host Community Acculturation Scale (HCAS) was used to measure the following five acculturation orientations toward “valued” and “devalued” immigrants: integrationism, assimilationism, segregationism, exclusionism, and individualism. Results obtained with Quebecois francophone host majority members (N = 637) showed that integrationism and individualism were the preferred orientations, whereas assimilationism, segregationism, and exclusionism were least endorsed. However, integrationism and individualism were more strongly endorsed for “valued” than “devalued” immigrants, whereas assimilationism, segregationism, and exclusionism were more strongly endorsed for “devalued” than “valued” immigrants. Degree of contact with immigrants was not related with the acculturation orientations of host majority francophones. The five acculturation orientations were clearly distinguished by the psychological profiles of respondents, thus confirming the construct validity of the HCAS scale.

Smoking Restrictions in Homes After Implementation of a Smoking Ban in Public Places

INTRODUCTION This Canadian study examines the prevalence of smoking restrictions in homes before and after the implementation of a public smoking ban, and their relation to tobacco use and cessation among a cohort of smokers. METHODS Data were from a longitudinal cohort study of 1,058 smokers in the province of Québec, Canada. Baseline data were collected through a population-based survey conducted 1 month before the implementation of the smoking ban with a representative sample of smokers. Follow-up data were collected 18 months after the ban with a response rate of 68%. Logistic regressions, paired t tests and chi-square statistics were used to examine the factors associated with smoking restrictions in homes, cigarette consumption, and quit attempts. RESULTS Many smokers imposed partial or full smoking restrictions in their homes but proportions of smoke-free homes did not change significantly between baseline and follow-up. The presence of young children and nonsmokers significantly predicted full smoking restriction in the home. Knowledge about risks associated with exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) and skepticism about the efficacy of methods to reduce exposure in the home also predicted maintenance of voluntary smoking restrictions in homes. The uptake of smoke-free homes was not associated with the quantity of cigarettes smoked or quit attempts. CONCLUSIONS No significant change in home smoking bans was found 18 months after implementation of a public smoking ban. There remains a need for efforts to better inform smokers about health risks from exposure to SHS in homes and the reality that strategies other than a total smoking ban inside the home are ineffective.

Social disparities in children's exposure to secondhand smoke in privately owned vehicles

Introduction Secondhand smoke (SHS) can quickly attain high concentrations in cars, posing health risks to passengers and especially to children. This paper assesses whether there are social disparities in childrens exposure to SHS in privately owned vehicles. Methods On weekday mornings and afternoons from September to November 2011, trained observers were stationed at 100 selected street intersections in Montreal, Canada. For each car transporting at least one passenger aged 0–15 years travelling through the intersection, observers recorded the estimated age of the youngest child in the car, whether any occupant was smoking and the licence plate number of the car. Licence plate numbers were linked to an area material deprivation index based on the postal code of the neighbourhood in which the car was registered. Results Smoking was observed in 0.7% of 20 922 cars transporting children. There was an apparent dose–response in the association between area material deprivation level and childrens exposure to SHS in cars. Children travelling in cars registered in the most disadvantaged areas of Montreal were more likely to be exposed to SHS than children travelling in cars registered in the most advantaged areas (unadjusted OR=3.46, 95% CI 1.99 to 6.01). Conclusions This study revealed social disparities in childrens exposure to SHS in privately owned vehicles.

Secondhand smoke exposure and depressive symptoms in children: a longitudinal study

Introduction We investigated whether secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure is associated with depressive symptoms in a population-based sample of children. Methods Never-smoking students from 29 French-language elementary schools in greater Montréal, Canada) were followed from 5th-11th grade (2005-11) in 5 waves: (1 (5th grade), 2 (spring 6th grade), 3 (7th grade), 4 (9th grade) and 5 (11th grade)). Associations between depressive symptoms and SHS exposure at home and in cars were examined in cross-sectional and longitudinal gamma generalized regression models adjusted for sex, maternal education and neighborhood socioeconomic status. Results The sample comprised 1553 baseline never smokers (Mean (SD) age = 10.7 (0.5) years; 44% male; 89% French-speaking). SHS exposure at home and in cars was associated with higher depressive symptom scores in cross-sectional analyses pooled across grades and adjusted for demographics (B (95% CI) = 0.041 (0.017, 0.068) for home exposure; 0.057 (0.030, 0.084) for car exposure). In longitudinal analyses from 5th to 6th grade, B (95% CI), adjusted for demographics and baseline depressive symptoms, was 0.042 (0.003, 0.080) for home exposure and 0.061 (0.019, 0.103) for car exposure. From 6th to 7th grade, B (95% CI) was 0.057 (0.003, 0.110) for home exposure and 0.074 (0.015, 0.133) for car exposure. SHS exposure at any age did not predict depressive symptoms two years later. Conclusions SHS exposure is associated with depressive symptoms in young persons, both concurrently and one year later. This finding adds to the evidence base supporting that children should be protected from SHS exposure.