Analysis of Smoking Patterns and Contexts Among College Student Smokers

Abstract

Many who smoke in college do so infrequently and smoking conditions are not well understood. We examined smoking patterns among college fraternity and sorority members (N = 207) from a Midwestern university in three successive fall semesters in 2006–2008. Participants completed calendar-assisted retrospective assessments of 30-day smoking at up to five assessment points over 96 days. Overall smoking rates declined over the course of each semester and higher smoking on weekends was observed, with more variability among daily smokers. The most frequent categories of events to cue recall of smoking were socializing, work, and school. Findings can be used to target prevention efforts.

RÉSUMÉ

Analyse des habitudes et des contextes liés au tabac chez les étudiants fumeurs

Parmi les étudiants fumeurs, nombreux sont ceux qui fument peu fréquemment et les conditions de consommation de tabac sont mal comprises. Nous avons étudié les habitudes liées au tabac des membres de clubs d’étudiantes et d’étudiants (N = 207) d'une université du Midwest au cours de trois semestres d'automne consécutifs de 2006 à 2008. En s'aidant d'un calendrier, les participants ont rempli des évaluations rétrospectives de 30 jours comportant jusqu’à 5 points d’évaluation sur 96 jours. Les taux globaux de consommation de tabac ont décliné au cours de chaque semestre et l'on a observé une consommation plus importante le week-end, avec une variabilité plus importante chez les fumeurs quotidiens. Les catégories d’événements les plus fréquents entraînant le souvenir de la consommation de tabac étaient les sorties, le travail et l’école. Les résultats peuvent être utilisés pour cibler les efforts de prévention.

RESUMEN

Análisis de los hábitos de fumar y de los contextos en que esto ocurre entre estudiantes universitarios que fuman

Muchas personas que fuman durante la vida en la universidad lo hacen de manera infrecuente y las condiciones de fumar no se entienden. Analizamos los patrones de fumar entre los miembros de las asociaciones universitarias para hombres y mujeres (N = 27) de una universidad del medio oeste en tres semestres de otoño consecutivos, de 2006 a 2008. Los participantes hicieron evaluaciones retrospectivas de 30 días de fumar asistidos por el calendario, hasta 5 puntos de evaluación durante 96 días. Se observó que los índices generales de fumar bajaron en el curso de cada semestre y fueron más altos los fines de semana, con mayor variabilidad entre los fumadores diarios. Las categorías de acontecimientos más frecuentes que llevan a fumar fueron la sociabilización, el trabajo y la universidad. Los hallazgos se pueden utilizar en esfuerzos de prevención.

Keywords :

• smoking
• college students
• patterns
• Timeline Follow-Back
• nondaily smoking
• daily smoking

THE AUTHORS

Nikole J. Cronk, Ph.D., is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Family & Community Medicine at the University of Missouri School of Medicine. Her research interests include addictive behaviors and the use of Motivational Interviewing to facilitate health behavior change.

Kari Jo Harris, Ph.D., M.P.H., is a Professor in the School of Public and Community Health Sciences at the University of Montana. Her research interests include smoking cessation treatment, especially among special populations.

Solomon W. Harrar, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at the University of Montana. His research interests include multivariate statistics, robustness, and asymptotic statistics.

Kathrene Conway is a Computer Systems Analyst at the University of Montana and her research interests include exploring the use of technology for all aspects of research and in creating an automated application to measure Integrative Complexity.

Delwyn Catley, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. His research interests include smoking behavior and nicotine addiction and the use of Motivational Interviewing to facilitate health behavior change.

Glenn E. Good, Ph.D., is a Professor and Associate Dean in the College of Education at the University of Missouri. His research focuses on psychotherapy interventions and on the influence of individuals’ conceptions of gender roles on their health behaviors.