Advancing Communication Science to Address Tobacco-Related Health Disparities

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable deaths and illnesses in the United States and globally. Sexual, racial, ethnic minorities, young adults, and populations from rural areas and lower socioeconomic positions are disproportionately impacted by the health harms of tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke. In this talk, Andy Tan, Associate Professor at the Annenberg School for Communication, will provide an overview of integrating communication science to address inequalities in health information exposure, message processing, and behavioral effects associated with pro- and anti-tobacco communications among vulnerable populations. He will present findings from recent work including examining inequities in tobacco advertising exposure among young adult sexual minorities, experiences of smoking risk and protective factors among transgender and gender expansive adults, and development of a culturally responsive communication intervention to increase resilience against tobacco marketing influences and reduce smoking among young adult LGB women.