Abstract

The utility of the PRECEDE model in identifying factors associated with smokeless tobacco use among male adolescents was investigated. Users and triers were more likely than nonusers to be white, older than average age for their grade, receive below average grades in school, and have had no classroom instruction on adverse effects of smokeless tobacco use. The standard score means of users, triers, and nonusers differed significantly on six of seven PRECEDE model components: attitudes, beliefs, values, perceptions, reinforcing factors, and enabling factors. The standard score means of triers and nonusers, only, differed significantly for the knowledge component. A stepwise multiple regression analysis using all seven model components as predictor variables of smokeless tobacco use accounted for 47.9% of explained variance among users, triers, and nonusers. The values component was the most powerful predictor of smokeless tobacco use (35% of the explained variance). Discriminant function analysis demonstrated the seven components of the PRECEDE mode instrument accurately classified 93.1% of users and nonusers.