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Social smoking among US college students
Susan Moran1, Henry Wechsler, Nancy A Rigotti
1Tobacco Research and Treatment Center and Division of General Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School; Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA. smoran1@partners.org
Pediatrics
|October 7, 2004
Summary
Social smoking, defined as smoking primarily with others, is common among college students. This behavior is linked to lighter smoking and less desire to quit.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Behavioral Science
- Tobacco Control
Background:
- Social smoking is a prevalent but poorly understood smoking pattern among young adults.
- Understanding social smoking is crucial for developing targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of social smoking among US college students.
- To identify factors associated with social smoking behavior.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional survey was conducted on a nationally representative sample of 10,904 US college students in 2001.
- Social smoking was defined as smoking mainly when with others.
Main Results:
- 51% of current smokers identified as social smokers.
- Social smoking was associated with lower frequency/intensity of use, less nicotine dependence, and reduced quit intentions.
Conclusions:
- Social smoking represents a distinct and common pattern of tobacco use in college students.
- This behavior may indicate an early stage in the smoking uptake process.