Assessing college students' autonomy over smoking with the Hooked On Nicotine Checklist.
OBJECTIVE
In this study, the authors explored the psychometric properties of the Hooked on Nicotine Checklist (HONC) among 300 college students who were current smokers. The HONC is a 10-item survey instrument designed to measure diminished autonomy over smoking, a key aspect of dependence. Autonomy is diminished when symptoms present a barrier to cessation.


RESULTS
Internal consistency was high (alpha = .89), as was concurrent validity. Students who began smoking earlier and heavier smokers reported more symptoms than did those who started later and smoked less. After controlling for smoking frequency, the HONC was predictive of the likelihood of a failed cessation attempt, with each additional symptom doubling that likelihood.


CONCLUSIONS
College health professionals could use the HONC to help new smokers recognize their symptoms of diminished autonomy. The HONC may serve as a recruiting tool for cessation programs, which could benefit such early-phase smokers.
Wellman
Robert
R
Behavioral Sciences Department, Fitchburg State College, Fitchburg, MA 01420-2697, USA. rwellman@fsc.edu
McMillen
Robert
R
Difranza
Joseph
J
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D013334:Students; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D014495:Universities