College student smokers' cognitive appraisal of high-risk activities.
OBJECTIVE
Students who smoke are more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as binge drinking and unprotected sex (Schnieder and Morris, Environ Behav. 1999; 23:575-591). The goals of the present study were to determine whether smokers assess these behaviors as lower risk than nonsmokers, and if smoking rate influences risk perceptions.


METHODS
Participants were 303 college students. Cognitive Appraisal of Risky Activities (Fromme et al., Cognit Ther Res. 1997; 21:421-442) and smoking were assessed August-November, 2006.


RESULTS
Smokers reported significantly less risk, more benefit, and more involvement in risky behaviors than nonsmokers (p < .01). In hierarchical linear regression, risk perceptions moderated the association between smoking and (a) expected benefit from risky sexual behaviors (beta = -1.121, p < .05); and (b) expected involvement with illicit drugs (beta = -.313, p < .01).


CONCLUSIONS
College smokers' assessment of high-risk behaviors influenced their intended involvement. Risk perception change may therefore alter their involvement in high-risk behaviors.
Copeland
Amy L
AL
Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA. copelan@lsu.edu
Kulesza
Magdalena
M
Patterson
Scott M
SM
Terlecki
Meredith A
MA
D000293:Adolescent; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008145:Louisiana; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012907:Smoking; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult