Trends in self-reported cigarette smoking, Wisconsin, 1984-1999.

The purpose of this study is to assess trends in self-reported cigarette smoking among adults in Wisconsin. Behavioral Risk Factor Survey data from 1984-1999 were analyzed to determine changes in smoking prevalence. Results of this analysis show almost no change in overall adult smoking prevalence over the past 15 years. Smoking prevalence rates did, however, decrease slightly for men from 29% in 1984 to 22% in 1999. Moreover, smoking prevalence for adults 18 to 24 years of age increased from 25% in 1994 to 36% in 1999. These results show that despite state and national efforts over the past 15 years to reduce cigarette smoking among adults, minimal progress has been made. Furthermore, the increase in smoking rates among 18 to 24 year olds highlights the need for additional prevention and cessation efforts targeted toward this group. Understanding past trends in cigarette smoking is critical for the Wisconsin Tobacco Control Board and other public health advocates to monitor progress toward the goal of reducing tobacco use.

Cigarette smoking in Wisconsin: the influence of race, ethnicity, and socioeconomics.

A disparate burden of cigarette use has been demonstrated among demographic subgroups both in the United States and Wisconsin. We examined patterns of adult current smoking prevalence in Wisconsin by race, Hispanic ethnicity, household income, and education to assess whether differences exist among these subgroups. This analysis revealed a strong graded relationship between household income, education, and smoking prevalence, consistent among non-Hispanic whites and blacks, though not Hispanics. Respondents with less than a high school education had significantly higher smoking prevalence rates (41%) than those with a college degree or more (13%). Smoking prevalence rates did not significantly differ between the race and ethnicity subgroups overall, or by gender and education, although they differed in some age and income subgroups. Possible explanations for the socioeconomic gradient include differences in tobacco product marketing practices, indoor workplace smoking policies, and access to health information, resources, and consistent, high-quality health care.

Progress in reducing per capita cigarette sales in Wisconsin, 1985-1999.

Over the past several decades, initiatives have been undertaken both on a national and state level to reduce cigarette smoking and its resultant health consequences. We compared trends in per capita cigarette sales in Wisconsin versus other states from 1985-1999. During this time period, per capita cigarette sales declined 21% in Wisconsin, versus 26% in the United States. Although the average per capita sales in Wisconsin were less than sales in the United States in both 1985 (107 versus 122 packs per capita) and 1999 (84 versus 90 packs per capita), Wisconsin's sales have declined at a slower rate, narrowing the gap between Wisconsin and US sales. Other states, such as California and Massachusetts, with large statewide tobacco control programs had rates of decline in cigarette sales over twice the Wisconsin decline from 1985-1999. In 1985, only 10 states had lower per capita sales than Wisconsin. By 1999, 24 states had lower rates, indicating greater relative progress in reducing sales in other states. Possible explanations for the greater decline in per capita cigarette sales in other states include differences in tobacco control programs, tobacco excise tax increases, and other tobacco policy initiatives.

Suppression and enhancement of emotional responses to unpleasant pictures.

Despite the prominence of emotional dysfunction in psychopathology, relatively few experiments have explicitly studied emotion regulation in adults. The present study examined one type of emotion regulation: voluntary regulation of short-term emotional responses to unpleasant visual stimuli. In a sample of 48 college students, both eyeblink startle magnitude and corrugator activity were sensitive to experimental manipulation. Instructions to suppress negative emotion led to both smaller startle eyeblinks and decreased corrugator activity. Instructions to enhance negative emotion led to larger startle eyeblinks and increased corrugator activity. Several advantages of this experimental manipulation are discussed, including the use of both a suppress and an enhance emotion condition, independent measurement of initial emotion elicitation and subsequent regulation of that emotion, the use of a completely within-subjects design, and the use of naturalistic emotion regulation strategies.