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Social smoking among intermittent smokers
Saul Shiffman1, Xiaoxue Li2, Michael S Dunbar1
1Smoking Research Group, Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, 130 N. Bellefield Avenue, Suite 510, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
Drug and Alcohol Dependence
|July 25, 2015
Summary
Social smoking, defined as smoking primarily with others, is a distinct pattern but uncommon among non-daily smokers. Only 13% of intermittent smokers (ITS) fit this social smoker profile.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Behavioral Science
- Addiction Research
Background:
- Social smoking is characterized by smoking primarily in the presence of others, suggesting extrinsic social motivations.
- Non-daily smokers (intermittent smokers; ITS) are often presumed to be social smokers, with some research suggesting all ITS are social smokers.
- This study aimed to identify and characterize social smokers within a sample of adult intermittent smokers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize the prevalence and distinct patterns of social smoking among adult intermittent smokers.
- To differentiate social smokers from other non-daily smokers based on smoking circumstances and motivations.
- To investigate the demographic and smoking-related characteristics of social smokers.
Main Methods:
- Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) was used to record smoking and non-smoking circumstances in real-time for 204 adult intermittent smokers (smoking 4-27 days/month).
- Social smokers (SS+) were defined as ITS who smoked most cigarettes when with others and were at least 50% more likely to be with others when smoking than when not.
- Data were analyzed to compare the smoking patterns, motivations, and demographics of SS+ versus other ITS.
Main Results:
- Only 13% of intermittent smokers met the criteria for social smokers (SS+).
- Social smokers exhibited distinct smoking patterns, including higher associations with socializing, friends, alcohol, weekends, evenings/nights, and being in others' homes.
- Compared to other ITS, SS+ smoked fewer days per week and showed less nicotine dependence, though demographic differences were not significant.
Conclusions:
- Social smoking represents a clearly identifiable and distinct pattern of smoking behavior.
- Despite its distinctiveness, social smoking is not a prevalent pattern among the studied adult intermittent smokers.
- The findings challenge the assumption that all or most intermittent smokers are social smokers.
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