TY - JOUR
T1 - Use of the Fagerström test to assess differences in the degree of nicotine dependence in smokers from five ethnic groups: The HELIUS study
AU - van Amsterdam, Jan
AU - Vorspan, Florence
AU - Snijder, Marieke B.
AU - van den Brink, Wim
AU - Schene, Aart H.
AU - Stronks, Karien
AU - Galenkamp, Henrike
AU - Derks, Eske M.
PY - 2019
Y1 - 2019
N2 - Background: The prevalence of smoking varies across ethnic groups in developed countries, but little is known about ethnic variations in specific aspects of nicotine dependence (ND). We conducted item-response analyses in current smokers to compare ND factors across five ethnic groups. Methods: Data were obtained from a population-based, multi-ethnic cohort study conducted in the Netherlands. The Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) was assessed in 1147 Dutch, 991 South-Asian Surinamese, 1408 African Surinamese, 1396 Turkish, and 584 Moroccan smokers (N = 5526). We tested whether the factorial structure of the FTND was invariant across ethnic groups using a multi-group confirmatory factor analysis. FTND item and total scores and factor means were compared across groups. Results: The two-factor model representing “morning smoking” and “smoking patterns” provided an adequate fit. The items “Cigarettes smoked daily” and “Time until first cigarette” showed differential item functioning (DIF) as a function of ethnicity. Three out of four ethnic minority groups scored significantly higher on both factors compared to the Dutch origin group (all p < 0.001) before and after taking DIF into account, while the African Surinamese scored higher only on “morning smoking” when DIF was accounted for. Discussion: The factor structure of the FTND is not measurement invariant across ethnic groups in this population-based sample. Accounting for DIF affecting the nicotine dependence factor scores, although South-Asian Surinamese, Turkish, and Moroccan groups showed higher levels of dependence than the Dutch origin group, genetic as well as environmental factors may account for the observed differences.
AB - Background: The prevalence of smoking varies across ethnic groups in developed countries, but little is known about ethnic variations in specific aspects of nicotine dependence (ND). We conducted item-response analyses in current smokers to compare ND factors across five ethnic groups. Methods: Data were obtained from a population-based, multi-ethnic cohort study conducted in the Netherlands. The Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) was assessed in 1147 Dutch, 991 South-Asian Surinamese, 1408 African Surinamese, 1396 Turkish, and 584 Moroccan smokers (N = 5526). We tested whether the factorial structure of the FTND was invariant across ethnic groups using a multi-group confirmatory factor analysis. FTND item and total scores and factor means were compared across groups. Results: The two-factor model representing “morning smoking” and “smoking patterns” provided an adequate fit. The items “Cigarettes smoked daily” and “Time until first cigarette” showed differential item functioning (DIF) as a function of ethnicity. Three out of four ethnic minority groups scored significantly higher on both factors compared to the Dutch origin group (all p < 0.001) before and after taking DIF into account, while the African Surinamese scored higher only on “morning smoking” when DIF was accounted for. Discussion: The factor structure of the FTND is not measurement invariant across ethnic groups in this population-based sample. Accounting for DIF affecting the nicotine dependence factor scores, although South-Asian Surinamese, Turkish, and Moroccan groups showed higher levels of dependence than the Dutch origin group, genetic as well as environmental factors may account for the observed differences.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=85056468139&origin=inward
UR - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30447512
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.10.011
DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.10.011
M3 - Article
C2 - 30447512
SN - 0376-8716
VL - 194
SP - 197
EP - 204
JO - Drug and alcohol dependence
JF - Drug and alcohol dependence
ER -