Previous findings have indicated that immigrant smoking behaviour differs from that of the native-born population. However, certain factors identified as predictors among the general populations, such as social norms and religion, are seldom examined among immigrants. This study aims to identify demographic, social norm and religion-related determinants associated with smoking among immigrants and descendants of immigrants in the French context.

A sample of immigrants and descendants of immigrant(s) in France completed a cross-sectional online survey in 2020. Data was collected on factors hypothesized to be determinants of smoking. Associations between selected covariates and smoking were quantified through multivariable logistic regression analyses. Comparability of the study sample with the source population was also assessed.

Sex-specific immigrant and descendant analyses revealed variation between these groups in demographic and other predictors of smoking. High odds of smoking were noted among male and female descendants of Middle Eastern and other North African origin, descendants who indicated that not smoking had negative social consequences and among female immigrants with an insufficient health literacy status. Lower odds of smoking were noted among female descendants of immigrants who practiced a religion.

These findings underlined the need for the inclusion of seldom-studied key determinants of smoking such as religion and social norm factors in development of smoking prevention and cessation programs that target immigrants and descendants of immigrants in France.