title: Perceived harm of tobacco products and individual schemas of a smoker in relation to change in tobacco product use over one year among young adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Given increases in nondaily smoking and alternative tobacco use among young adults, we examined the nature of change of various tobacco product use among college students over a year and predictors of use at one-year follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  An online survey was administered to students at six Southeast colleges and universities (N = 4,840; response rate = 20.1%) in Fall 2010, with attempts to follow up in Fall 2011 with a random subsample of 2,000 participants (N = 718; response rate = 35.9%). Data were analyzed from 698 participants with complete data regarding tobacco, marijuana, and alcohol use over a one-year period, perceived harm of tobacco use, and schemas of a "smoker" (as per the Classifying a Smoker Scale).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baseline predictors of current smoking at follow-up included being White (p = .001), frequency of smoking (p < .001), alternative tobacco use (p < .001), and perceived harm of smoking (p = .02); marginally significant predictors included marijuana use (p = .06) and lower scores on the Classifying a Smoker Scale (p = .07). Baseline predictors of current smoking at follow-up among baseline nondaily smokers included more frequent smoking (p = .008); lower Classifying a Smoker Scale score was a marginally significant predictor (p = .06). Baseline predictors of alternative tobacco use at follow-up included being male (p = .007), frequency of smoking (p = .04), alternative tobacco use (p < .001), and frequency of alcohol use (p = .003); marginally significant predictors included marijuana use (p = .07) and lower perceived harm of smokeless tobacco (p = .06) and cigar products (p = .08).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tobacco control campaigns and interventions might target schemas of a smoker and perceived risks of using various tobacco products, even at low levels.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Emory University School of Public Health, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
authors.forename: Carla J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: Devan R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pulvers
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000453:epidemiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D015144:Southeastern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D062789:Tobacco Products / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: smoking; smoking cessation; tobacco control; tobacco use; youth