title: "I smoke but I am not a smoker": phantom smokers and the discrepancy between self-identity and behavior.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article presents the development of a new smoking status, the "phantom smokers," who do not view themselves as smokers but report smoking cigarettes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Students from 2 universities in Michigan (N = 899; October 2005) and Florida (N = 1,517; May 2006) participated in surveys.
  
  
  METHODS
  Respondents in Michigan completed measures regarding smoking status and tobacco use, and respondents in Florida completed measures regarding smoking status, tobacco use, smoking consequences, and norms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The studies identify the incidence of phantom smokers (29.6% in Michigan and 5.5% in Florida). Different questions resulted in different smoking rates. Phantom smokers expect more negative affect reduction and social facilitation from smoking than nonsmokers. Phantom smokers display ambivalent attitudes toward a typical smoker's image. They experience less pressure to change their smoking behavior than smokers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Phantom smokers' dissociation from smokers should be recognized and targeted as a distinct group for antismoking messages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Advertising and Public Relations, Dongguk University, Seoul, South Korea. goyoujin@gmail.com
authors.forename: Youjin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Sejung Marina
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Nora
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rifon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012649:Self Concept; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D012938:Social Perception; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult