Does place of residence matter? Contextual effects and smoking in Christchurch.

AIM

To analyse the relationship between residential segregation and smoking and quit rates in Christchurch.

METHOD

The study used a nested research design, which examines the extent to which variations in adult smoking rates at the meshblock level are, when holding socio-economic status constant, also influenced by the socio-economic profile of the census area units or wider communities within which they are located.

RESULTS

Smoking and quit rates are not only related to levels of local neighbourhood (meshblock) deprivation, but also depend to a large extent on whether such neighbourhoods are located in socially segregated or more socially mixed parts of the city. The findings provide added support for the independent influence of contextual effects on smoking behaviour.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that attempts to further reduce smoking should target places as well as people.