title: Lay theories of smoking and young adult nonsmokers' and smokers' smoking expectations.
abstract: This study investigated the relationship between lay theories of cigarette smoking and expectations to smoke. An incremental lay theory of smoking entails the belief that smoking behavior can change; an entity theory entails the belief that smoking behavior cannot change. Undergraduate nonsmokers and smokers completed a survey that assessed lay theories of smoking and smoking expectations. Results demonstrated that lay theories of smoking were differentially associated with smoking expectations for nonsmokers and smokers: stronger incremental beliefs were associated with greater expectations of trying smoking for nonsmokers but lower expectations of becoming a regular smoker for smokers. Implications for interventions are discussed.
authors.affiliation: The George Washington University, USA Tobacco Control Research Branch, Behavioral Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, USA cfitz@gwu.edu.
authors.forename: Caroline C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Fitz
authors.affiliation: Tobacco Control Research Branch, Behavioral Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, USA.
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaufman
authors.affiliation: The George Washington University, USA.
authors.forename: Philip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Moore
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: lay theories; smoking expectations/intentions