Contextual and subjective antecedents of smoking in a college student sample.
BACKGROUND
College is a time when individuals are at risk for initiating or increasing their smoking behavior. Little is known, however, about the contexts in which college students smoke. Identifying antecedents to smoking would provide insights into motivation and stimulus control of smoking in this population.


METHODS
In a sample of 50 college student smokers, situational, behavioral, and subjective state variables were compared between prompted interviews (N = 2,095) and participant-initiated smoking interviews (N = 865) using electronic handheld diaries.


RESULTS
The strongest predictors of smoking were recently inhabiting an outside location (odds ratio [OR] = 4.19, p < .001), the presence of others smoking (OR = 3.93, p < .001), and being where smoking was permitted (OR = 3.26, p < .001), indicating situational control over smoking. Less cue control over smoking was found for daily than nondaily smokers. Craving was the most robust subjective antecedent of smoking behavior (OR = 1.32, p < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that smoking among college students is largely opportunistic, craving is important and may develop early in the progression of smoking, and stimulus control may erode with greater smoking experience.
Cronk
Nikole J
NJ
Department of Family & Community Medicine, University of Missouri School of Medicine, DC032.00, Columbia, MO 65212, USA. cronkn@health.missouri.edu
Piasecki
Thomas M
TM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult