title: Attitudinal and behavioral differences between cigarette users who do and do not identify as "smokers".
abstract: The current research aimed to understand differences in smoking-related identity among college students and to illustrate the distinct characteristics of nonidentified smokers (NIS).
  
  
  
  Students from 2 colleges in Massachusetts (N = 538; April 2016).
  
  
  
  Respondents reported by online survey whether or not they had smoked a cigarette in the past 30 days and if they self-identified as smokers. Nonsmokers (NIS) and identified smokers (IS) were then compared on their smoking attitudes and behavior.
  
  
  
  NIS made up 12.5% of the sample and 64% of all tobacco users. NIS perceived themselves as less addicted and were more confident in their ability to quit smoking. They also were less likely to smoke alone, buy their own cigarettes, or have friends who smoked.
  
  
  
  College health officials can best motivate NIS to quit smoking by focusing on peer norms and the potential of long-term addiction.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , Wheaton College , Norton , Massachusetts , USA.
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.affiliation: b Department of Psychology , Emmanuel College , Boston , Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , Wheaton College , Norton , Massachusetts , USA.
authors.forename: Madeleine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: White
authors.affiliation: c Azimuth Psychological , Cambridge , Massachusetts , USA.
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alfonso-Barry
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts; D010379:Peer Group; D020377:Self Efficacy; D000074285:Smokers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012938:Social Perception; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: College students; identity; occasional smoking; smoking