The smoking behavior of adults can negatively impact children through exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and by modeling this unhealthy behavior. The study specifically analyzed the relationship between social cohesion and smoking behaviors of adults living with children using data from the 2009 California Health Interview Survey. Adults living with children reported their levels of social cohesion and smoking behaviors (N=13,978). 

Social cohesion refers to both the absence of latent conflict and the presence of strong social bonds at the community level. When social cohesion in a community is high, individuals cooperate with each other for the collective good of all. It has been shown to alter parenting behavior in such a way that high cohesion leads to diminished parental involvement, potentially because these parents can rely on others, such as neighbors, to be involved. 

Among adults living with children, higher social cohesion is associated with a lower likelihood of both being and smoker and living in a home where smoking is allowed.