Predictors of smoking among US college students.
OBJECTIVE
This study explored predictors of smoking among a large, representative national sample of students enrolled in American 4-year colleges.


METHODS
A sample of undergraduate students, randomly selected from 140 colleges, was sent a detailed questionnaire that included questions about smoking status.


RESULTS
The 30-day smoking prevalence was 22.3%; 25% of the participants were former smokers. Multivariate analyses suggested that, among college students, men are less likely to smoke than women. In addition, high-risk behaviors (e.g., marijuana use) and lifestyle choices (e.g., nonparticipation in athletics) increased the likelihood of being a smoker.


CONCLUSIONS
This study's findings have important implications for health education and promotion among college populations.
Emmons
K M
KM
Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Wechsler
H
H
Dowdall
G
G
Abraham
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014495:Universities