title: Smoker identity and smoking escalation among adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated whether there is a positive, unique relation between smoker identity and smoking escalation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adolescents from the Chicago area (n = 1263) completed paper-and-pencil questionnaires and in-person interviews at baseline, 6 months, 15 months, and 24 months of a longitudinal study. Smoking behavior, smoker identity, nicotine dependence, smoking expectancies, smoking motives, and novelty seeking were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a unique relation between smoker identity and smoking escalation. The more that adolescents thought smoking was a defining aspect of who they were, the more likely their smoking escalated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest that smoker identity could be targeted for preventing escalation. Research on its development is needed.
authors: Institute for Health Research and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago, 60608, USA. hertel@uic.edu
authors: Andrew W
authors: AW
authors: Hertel
authors: Robin J
authors: RJ
authors: Mermelstein
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002641:Chicago; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012649:Self Concept; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder