Cultural Codes and Cigarette Use: Understanding Smoking in Latino Sexual Minority Men

We recently had the pleasure of speaking with David Rivera a doctoral candidate from UC Santa Barbra, about his new study examining the relationship between cultural masculinity constructs and social behaviors among Latino sexual minority men. His research, published in our flagship journal, Psychology of Men & Masculinities, explores how traditional gender roles of machismo and caballerismo influence health behaviors within this community. This innovative work has implications for cigarette smoking prevention and cessation programs for sexual minority Latino men, which may benefit from culturally responsive strategies (full cite below).

Rivera, D. B., Rozzell-Voss, K. N., & Blashill, A. J. (2024). An examination of cigarette smoking, traditional machismo, and caballerismo among sexual minority Latino men. Psychology of Men & Masculinities. Advance online publication. https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fmen0000447

What were the key questions you were addressing in this article?

The primary objective of our article was to investigate whether traditional machismo and caballerismo were linked with cigarette smoking among sexual minority Latino men. Specifically, we aimed to analyze if these two gender role components (e.g., traditional machismo and caballerismo) were associated with the likelihood of smoking cigarettes (versus not smoking any cigarettes) and the extent of smoking cigarettes (moderate versus low cigarette smoking).

What were the main conclusions of your article?

Our multivariate analyses revealed that sexual minority Latino men with high traditional machismo scores were significantly more likely to smoke both 1+ and 10+ cigarettes per day. Caballerismo was not found to be associated with smoking 1+ nor 10+ cigarettes per day in the multivariate analyses; however, caballerismo was negatively associated with the number of cigarettes smoked per day in our bivariate findings.

What are the key implications of your article for research, policy, or practice?

Cigarette smoking prevention and cessation programs for sexual minority Latino men may benefit from incorporating culturally responsive strategies to address traditional machismo, which may be a risk factor for cigarette smoking if confirmed by additional research. Additionally, the negative bivariate association between caballerismo and the number of cigarettes smoked per day suggests that caballerismo may, to an extent, potentially play a role in lower cigarette smoking behavior. Promoting aspects of caballerismo while addressing traditional machismo may ensure that cigarette smoking prevention and cessation programs are culturally responsive and useful for sexual minority Latino men.

Where do you see this line of research heading in the future (i.e., what’s next)?

In the future, I plan to develop a culturally responsive intervention that aims at increasing pro-health behaviors by addressing traditional machismo and incorporating aspects of caballerismo. One approach may be to enhance the relationship that sexual minority Latino men may have with their masculinity. By acknowledging and integrating cultural constructs, such as traditional machismo and caballerismo, the intervention may be useful in supporting sexual minority Latino men in adopting healthier lifestyles.

How did you become interested in this line of inquiry?

My interest in this line of research stems from my personal experiences as a sexual minority Latino man. I grew up in a family whose socioeconomic status frequently fluctuated, which resulted in my family frequently relocating. My experiences relocating between neighborhoods made me acutely aware of how culture, intersectionality, and social determinants of health impact the well-being of the communities I form part of. I have since been incredibly motivated to address health disparities among sexual and gender minorities of color, such as sexual minority Latino men, by centering their experiences.

David B. Rivera, M.A.

Doctoral Candidate

Department of Counseling, Clinical, & School Psychology

Doctoral Scholars Fellow

Louis H. Towbes Fellow

Pronouns: he/him/his

UC Santa Barbra