title: Smoking patterns, health behaviors, and health-risk behaviors of college women.
abstract: In 1993, 22% of college women smoked; in 1997, the rate increased to 29%. College-age women (<24 years) showed the greatest increase in smoking. The purpose of this study is to describe smoking behaviors of college women. The sample included 21 college-age female smokers. Each woman was interviewed about smoking habits and completed a health survey, the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence, a Self-Efficacy Scale for predicting smoking relapse, a Decisional Balance Scale for smoking, a readiness for change tool, and the Derogatis Stress Profile. The majority of the students began smoking at the age of 14 years or younger and smoked fewer than 10 cigarettes per day. The biggest obstacles to quitting were being around other smokers and social activities involving alcohol. These students did not smoke when ill and were interested in quitting smoking. Smoking frequency correlated significantly with dependency and stage of change. Advanced practice nurses have a unique opportunity to identify these young smokers, educate them about smoking-cessation options, and offer specific strategies to help these women stop smoking.
authors.affiliation: Georgetown University School of Nursing, Washington, DC 20057-1107, USA. kelleyj@gunet.georgetown.edu
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Kelley
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Friedmann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012309:Risk-Taking; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D014930:Women / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*