title: Smoker identity among occasional smokers: findings from Minnesota.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate characteristics of occasional smokers who deny being smokers (ie, deniers).
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were from 3 rounds of the Minnesota Adult Tobacco Survey (MATS 2003, 2007, and 2010), a statewide, cross-sectional, and random-digit-dial telephone survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nearly half of occasional smokers did not view themselves as smokers. Characteristics that were predictive of being a denier included less perceived harm from secondhand smoke, fewer days smoked, and fewer cigarettes smoked per day.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Denial of being a smoker is primarily characterized by very light smoking. Future communication efforts should be tailored for this group.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Initiatives, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia. lee.jeongkyu@gmail.com
authors.forename: Jeong Kyu
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Raymond G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Boyle
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: D'Silva
authors.forename: Ann W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: St Claire
authors.forename: Megan N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Whittet
authors.forename: Ann M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kinney
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003717:Denial, Psychological; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008910:Minnesota; D012649:Self Concept; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*