OBJECTIVES:

To determine if community subjective social status (SSS) predicted smoking abstinence through 26 weeks postrandomization among 755 African American light smokers of low SES (socioeconomic status).

METHODS:

Participants were enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial, which examined the efficacy of nicotine gum and counseling for smoking cessation.

RESULTS:

Results indicated that SSS predicted smoking abstinence over time [P=.046; odds ratio (OR) =1.075 (1.001-1.155)] after adjusting for covariates.

CONCLUSIONS:

Further research is needed to understand the effects of community SSS on smoking cessation among heavy smokers and other ethnic groups.