Weaker Effects of Parental Education on Oral Nicotine Use of High School Students in Rural Areas: Marginalization-Related Diminished Returns.

Abstract

Background: Nicotine pouches, gummies, and candies have emerged as popular alternatives to traditional tobacco products among U.S. adolescents. While parental educational attainment is generally associated with youth substance use, marginalization-related diminished returns (MDRs) suggest that this effect may be weaker in marginalized populations, including non-Latino White communities. In particular, place-based marginalization-such as neighborhood economic disadvantage and school-level poverty-may attenuate the benefits of parental education. This study examines MDRs in the relationship between parental educational attainment and nicotine pouch/gummy/candy use among non-Latino White 12th graders in the 2024 Monitoring the Future (MTF) study.

Methods: This study analyzed nationally representative data from the 2024 MTF study, focusing on non-Latino White 12th graders who reported parental education levels and adolescents' use of nicotine pouch/gummy/candy. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to estimate the effects of parental education on adolescents' use of nicotine pouches, gummies, and candies, while adjusting for demographic covariates. Place-based marginalization was operationalized using rural vs urban/suburban residence. Interaction terms tested whether the effect of parental education varied based on place of residence.

Results: Higher parental educational attainment was associated with lower use of nicotine pouches, gummies, and candies. However, this effect was significantly weaker in rural areas.

Conclusion: Public health interventions should account for place-based disparities rather than assuming a uniform effect of SES factors. This study highlights the need for policy responses that address structural inequities beyond individual family SES.