Association between financial dependence and tobacco use among young adults.

Objectives: To evaluate the relationship between financial dependence on parents and young adult tobacco use.

Methods: Cross-sectional data (N = 4195) were analyzed. Multinomial and binary logistic regression were used to model financial dependence as a predictor of tobacco use and frequency of use.

Results: Most participants were financially independent (53.5%) and current (27.3%) or previous (26.8%) users. Income, education, and employment interacted with financial dependence to predict tobacco use. Dependent participants had greater odds of current (OR range: 3.28-7.17) and lower odds of previous use (0.14-0.37) than independent participants. Financial dependence did not predict frequency of current use.

Conclusions: Greater financial dependence on parents is associated with increased current and decreased previous tobacco use among young adults.