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Correlates of Smoke-Free Housing Policies and Interest in Implementing Policies among Multiunit Housing Owners in New York City

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Abstract

Secondhand smoke exposure is a concern in multiunit housing, where smoke can migrate between apartments. In 2012, the New York City (NYC) Department of Health and Mental Hygiene conducted a cross-sectional mail and phone survey among a random sample of low-income and market-rate multiunit housing owners and managers in NYC. The study compared experiences and attitudes regarding smoke-free policies between owners/managers (owners) with and without low-income units. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the correlates of smoke-free residential unit rules and interest in adopting new smoke-free rules. Perceived benefits and challenges of implementing smoke-free rules were also examined. Overall, one-third of owners prohibited smoking in individual units. Among owners, nearly one-third owned or managed buildings with designated certified low-income units. Owners with low-income units were less likely than those without to have a smoke-free unit policy (26 vs. 36 %, p < 0.01) or be aware that owners can legally adopt smoke-free building policies (60 vs. 70 %, p < 0.01). In the final model, owners who believed that owners could legally adopt smoke-free policies were more likely to have a smoke-free unit policy, while current smokers and owners of larger buildings were less likely to have a policy. Nearly three quarters of owners without smoke-free units were interested in prohibiting smoking in all of their building/units (73 %). Among owners, correlates of interest in prohibiting smoking included awareness that secondhand smoke is a health issue and knowledge of their legal rights to prohibit smoking in their buildings. Current smokers were less likely to be interested in future smoke-free policies. Educational programs promoting awareness of owners’ legal right to adopt smoke-free policies in residential buildings may improve the availability of smoke-free multiunit housing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, NY, USA

    Shannon M. Farley, Micaela H. Coady, Victoria Grimshaw, Danielle A. Wright, Jenna Mandel-Ricci & Susan M. Kansagra

  2. Oregon Rural Practice-based Research Network, Portland, OR, USA

    Elizabeth Needham Waddell

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  1. Shannon M. Farley
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Correspondence to Shannon M. Farley.

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Farley, S.M., Waddell, E.N., Coady, M.H. et al. Correlates of Smoke-Free Housing Policies and Interest in Implementing Policies among Multiunit Housing Owners in New York City. J Urban Health 92, 291–303 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-014-9934-z

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