Effects of a nicotine warning label and vaping cessation resources on young adults' perceptions of pro-vaping instagram influencer posts

BACKGROUND

Exposure to social media content promoting e-cigarette use ("vaping") is associated with subsequent tobacco use among young adults. Adding features to pro-vaping Instagram influencer posts, such as a nicotine warning label and vaping cessation resources, could help counteract posts' negative influence.

METHODS

Young adults (N = 2,179; Mage = 22.6 [SD = 0.4]; 53.0 % cisgender women, 45.1 % Hispanic) completed an online experiment in 2021-2022 through an ongoing prospective cohort study. Participants viewed three simulated pro-vaping Instagram influencer posts in a four-group, between-subjects design. Post features differed by experimental condition: "label-only" (nicotine warning label on post), "link-only" (link to vaping cessation resources under post), "L&L" (label and link), or "control" (neither). Participants rated each influencer's traits (honest, trustworthy, informed, smart, attractive, popular; 0-100 %). After viewing all three posts, participants reported use intentions, susceptibility, positive and negative expectancies, and harm perceptions around the fictitious advertised vaping product. Past-month vapers additionally reported their desire and self-efficacy for quitting.

RESULTS

L&L (versus control and link-only) participants viewed influencers as more honest, trustworthy, and informed. L&L (versus control) participants had lower odds of susceptibility to using the advertised product, lower positive expectancies, and greater negative expectancies. The label and link did not significantly affect participants' intentions to use the product, perceived harm of the product, or desire or self-efficacy for quitting vaping.

CONCLUSIONS

Providing a nicotine warning label and link to vaping cessation resources on influencers' Instagram posts may have the unintended effect of increasing positive perceptions of the influencer. However, they may reduce susceptibility to product use.

Validation of the Electronic Cigarette Expectancy Scale for Adolescents

INTRODUCTION

Expectancies of costs and benefits can be predictive of tobacco use, as well as cessation attempts and success. Measuring electronic cigarette (ECIG) expectancies is in its infancy, particularly among adolescents. However, the popularity of adolescent ECIG use demonstrates the need to understand better these contributing factors. Our aim was to evaluate the factor structure and initial psychometric properties of an ECIG expectancies questionnaire adapted from an existing validated scale for conventional cigarette smoking (Smoking Expectancy Scale for Adolescents; SESA).

METHODS

Five-hundred sixty-nine adolescents (14-18 years; 60.1% female; 84.1% White) were recruited from high schools and an adolescent medicine clinic. Participants completed a battery of self-report measures, including the ECIG Expectancies Scale for Adolescents (EESA). Exploratory factor analyses were used to examine the underlying factor structure, and convergent validity was evaluated using variables conceptually related to ECIG expectancies.

RESULTS

A three-factor solution was chosen based on statistical evidence and conceptual relevance. All three factors - Costs, Social Benefits, and Affective/Weight Benefits - had strong internal consistencies and demonstrated convergent validity via significant associations with peer ECIG use and Conscientiousness. The Costs and Affective/Weight Benefits factors also demonstrated convergent validity with sensation-seeking, intention to use ECIGs, and ECIG use status (current, lifetime, nonuser).

CONCLUSION

Results support the initial reliability and validity of the EESA scores. This factor structure is related to, yet different from, that observed not only for the SESA but also for other ECIG-expectancy measures among adult populations.

Adolescent smoking: The relationship between cigarette consumption and BMI

Background

Studies relating cigarette smoking and body weight yield conflicting results. Weight-lowering effects in women and men have been associated with smoking, however, no effects on weight have been proven. This study examined the association between cigarette smoking and relative weight in adolescent males and females as they age into young adults.

Methods

Data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth—a nationally representative survey conducted annually—was used for this analysis. The sample consists of 4225 males and females observed annually from 1997 at age 12 to 17 through 2011 at age 27 to 31. Hierarchical generalized models (HGM) assess the impact of smoking on the likelihood of having higher BMI controlling for demographic, household and environmental impacts. The second estimation considers the possibility that smoking is endogenous and utilizes a multinomial instrument (IV) for smoking level.

Results

HGM models reveal a negative association between cigarette smoking and BMI for both males and females. Individuals who smoke more have lower BMI compared to infrequent or non-smokers. General health rating, region of residence and income were used instrument for smoking in a linear two-stage IV specification. The instrument is highly correlated with BMI and results mirror the HGM. Finally, models run on early, middle and advanced adolescents show that the relationship diminishes over time. The relationship between BMI and smoking decreases as females age but increases for males.

Conclusions

Empirical models confirm an association cigarette consumption and BMI in both males and females. This negative relationship varies with age. It is important to identify health risks—obesity—and modifiable risk factors—smoking—that contribute to health disparities among adolescents. However, the increase in one risky behavior leading to the decrease in the prevalence of the other, complicates the issue. The higher prevalence of frequent cigarette uses among both adolescents and young adults of lower BMI suggest that smoking could be used curb or suppress appetite.

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The weight impact of tobacco use by adolescents, unlike adults, has not been conclusively determined.

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This study examines the relationship between cigarette use and the body weight (BMI) of high school aged youth.

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Since smoking can be considered endogeneous in weight studies, smoking is instrumented in a two-stage process.

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Cigarette use is associated with higher BMI, but magnitudes vary by age.

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Models run on early, middle and older adolescents show that the relationship diminishes over time.

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The relationship between BMI and smoking decreases as females age but increases for males.

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Overweight and obese adolescents were more frequent tobacco users.

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Results suggest that electronic and conventional tobacco has similar BMI associations when used independently.

Testing the effects of explicit and implicit bidimensional attitudes on objectively measured speeding behaviour

Bidimensional attitudes have been shown to independently predict behaviour, with the positive dimension of attitude being a stronger predictor of behaviour than the negative dimension (e.g., Elliott, Brewster, et al., 2015, Br. J. Psychol, 106, 656). However, this positivity bias has been demonstrated with explicit attitude measures only and explicit attitude measures tap deliberative processes rather than automatic processes, which are known to be important in the execution of many behaviours. The aim of this study was to test whether implicit bidimensional attitudes can account for variance in speeding behaviour over and above explicit bidimensional attitudes and whether the positivity bias that is typically found with explicit attitudes generalizes to implicit attitudes. A total of 131 drivers completed a questionnaire measuring their explicit bidimensional attitudes towards speeding. They also completed Implicit Association Tests measuring their implicit bidimensional attitudes. Two weeks later, speeding behaviour was measured using a driving simulator. Explicit attitudes accounted for a significant proportion of the variance in subsequent speeding behaviour. Implicit attitudes accounted for a statistically significant increment to explained variance. The positive dimension of both explicit and implicit attitudes predicted speeding behaviour but the negative dimensions did not. Theoretical implications for understanding the potential attitudinal causes of behaviour and practical implications for behaviour‐change interventions are discussed.

Modelling the contribution of negative affect, outcome expectancies and metacognitions to cigarette use and nicotine dependence

BACKGROUND

Both positive smoking outcome expectancies and metacognitions about smoking have been found to be positively associated with cigarette use and nicotine dependence. The goal of this study was to test a model including nicotine dependence and number of daily cigarettes as dependent variables, anxiety and depression as independent variables, and smoking outcome expectancies and metacognitions about smoking as mediators between the independents and dependents.

METHODS

The sample consisted of 524 self-declared smokers who scored 3 or above on the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND: Uysal et al., 2004).

RESULTS

Anxiety was not associated with either cigarette use or nicotine dependence but was positively associated with all mediators with the exception of stimulation state enhancement and social facilitation. Depression, on the other hand, was found to be positively associated with nicotine dependence (and very weakly to cigarette use) but was not associated with either smoking outcome expectancies or metacognitions about smoking. Only one smoking outcome expectancy (negative affect reduction) was found to be positively associated with nicotine dependence but not cigarette use. Furthermore one smoking outcome expectancy (negative social impression) was found to be positively associated with cigarette use (but not to nicotine dependence). All metacognitions about smoking were found to be positively associated with nicotine dependence. Moreover, negative metacognitions about uncontrollability were found to be positively associated with cigarette use.

CONCLUSIONS

Metacognitions about smoking appear to be a stronger mediator than smoking outcome expectancies in the relationship between negative affect and cigarette use/nicotine dependence. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Race/Ethnicity, Smoking Status, and Self-Generated Expected Outcomes from Smoking among Adolescents

Racial/ethnic differences in adolescent smoking suggest that different factors may motivate smoking among various racial/ethnic groups. This study examined relations among race/ethnicity, self-generated smoking outcome expectancies, and smoking status. Our findings noted that current smoking was highest among Hispanics, whereas African Americans and Asians were least likely to ever smoke. African Americans were most likely to experiment but least likely to smoke currently. Five expectancies differed significantly by race/ethnicity: reduce tension, image, negative aesthetics, addiction, and cost. However, none were significant mediators or moderators. Racial/ethnic groups most susceptible to smoking initiation and with the highest rates of current smoking should be targeted for prevention and cessation. Research is needed to examine more thoroughly racial/ethnic differences in expectancies.

Gender Differences in Adolescent Smoking: Mediator and Moderator Effects of Self-Generated Expected Smoking Outcomes

PURPOSE

To examine relations among gender, self-generated smoking-outcome expectancies, and smoking in adolescents.

METHODS

Students from one all-girls' (n=350; 53%) and one all-boys' (n=315; 47%) Catholic high school participated. Analyses included binary and ordinal logistic regression.

RESULTS

For boys, smoking behavior was associated with buzz (odds radio [OR] = 1.92, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.31-2.83, p < .001), pleasure (OR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.01-2.16, p = .044), taste/smell (OR = 2.17, 95% CI: 1.12-4.19, p = .022), stimulation (OR = 3.69, 95% CI: 1.32-10.28, p = .013), and exercise/sport impairment (OR = 2.84, 95% CI: 1.68-4.81, p < .001). Among girls, weight control (OR = 0.22, 95% CI: 0.13-0.36, p < .001), negative aesthetics (OR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.28-0.64, p < .001), addiction (OR = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.28-0.55, p < .001), and negative mood (OR = 0.44, 95% CI 0.20-0.97, p = .041) predicted smoking. Buzz (beta = 2.88, p = .004) mediated the gender-smoking relationship. Moderators included negative social (beta = -0.45, p = .021) and enhance self-esteem (beta = -1.07, p = .024).

CONCLUSION

Interventions might benefit from tailoring on gender differences in smoking-outcome expectancies.

Development and validation of a smoking expectancies measure for adolescents seeking to quit smoking

BACKGROUND

A more comprehensive understanding of factors that affect smoking cessation outcomes among adolescents may help enhance treatment interventions. One promising but underexplored factor that may influence cessation success is teens' specific expectancies or beliefs about smoking outcomes. The present study evaluated the validity and reliability of a new measure of expectancies and its association with cessation outcomes among 762 adolescent smokers participating in studies of the American Lung Association's Not On Tobacco cessation program.

METHODS

Self-report questionnaires were collected prior to and following participation in a smoking cessation program. Self-reported cigarette use was verified with expired-air carbon monoxide. A multistep exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis and reliability and validity analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Four theoretically related yet empirically independent factors were identified by the Smoking Expectancies Questionnaire (SEQ): (1) Positive Reinforcement, (2) Negative Reinforcement-Emotional Regulation, (3) Negative Reinforcement-Addiction and Withdrawal, and (4) Negative Outcomes/Risk. These factors could be subsumed by a single SEQ factor that reflected an overall concept of smoking expectancies relevant for adolescent smoking cessation. An overall SEQ Function score reflecting the balance between positive and negative expectancies predicted both preintervention cigarettes per day and cessation outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

A single, overall SEQ Function score may prove useful for understanding the associations among individual, social, and contextual factors in predicting treatment outcomes. Additionally, study findings may assist with modifying smoking expectancies among cessation program participants, thereby enhancing treatment outcomes with diverse youth smoking populations.

Testing the bi-dimensional effects of attitudes on behavioural intentions and subsequent behaviour

Attitudes are typically treated as unidimensional predictors of both behavioural intentions and subsequent behaviour. On the basis of previous research showing that attitudes comprise two independent, positive and negative dimensions, we hypothesized that attitudes would be bi-dimensional predictors of both behavioural intentions and subsequent behaviour. We focused on health-risk behaviours. We therefore also hypothesized that the positive dimension of attitude (evaluations of positive behavioural outcomes) would better predict both behavioural intentions and subsequent behaviour than would the negative dimension, consistent with the positivity bias/offset principle. In Study 1 (cross sectional design), N = 109 university students completed questionnaire measures of their intentions to binge-drink and the positive and negative dimensions of attitude. Consistent with the hypotheses, both attitude dimensions independently predicted behavioural intentions and the positive dimension was a significantly better predictor than was the negative dimension. The same pattern of findings emerged in Study 2 (cross sectional design; N = 186 university students) when we predicted intentions to binge-drink, smoke and consume a high-fat diet. Similarly, in Study 3 (prospective design; N = 1,232 speed limit offenders), both the positive and negative dimensions of attitude predicted subsequent (6-month post-baseline) speeding behaviour on two different road types and the positive dimension was the better predictor. The implications for understanding the motivation of behaviour and the development of behaviour-change interventions are discussed.

Self-regulation of commitment to reduce cigarette consumption: mental contrasting of future with reality

The model of fantasy realisation (Oettingen, 2000) specifies mental contrasting of a positive future with negative reality as a strategy that creates strong goal commitments. We propose that fantasies about a positive and negative future produce strong goal commitments when contrasted with the respective reality. The present study supports this hypothesis in the area of reducing cigarette consumption. Mental contrasting of a positive future with negative reality as well as mental contrasting of a negative future with positive reality led to taking immediate action when participants had high expectations of success. Results indicate that both fantasies about a positive future and a negative future can be used to commit to goals that benefit health and prevent disease.

Smoking outcome expectancies mediate the association between sensation seeking, peer smoking, and smoking among young adolescents

BACKGROUND

Sensation seeking is a strong correlate of smoking among adolescents, yet the research on mediators of this association is not well established. The proposed model of the present study includes antecedent variables (sensation seeking), mediators (perceived peer smoking, outcome expectancies including negative consequences, positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, and appetite-and-weight control), and one outcome variable (smoking cigarettes during the past 30 days).

METHODS

Self-reported data obtained from Hungarian high-school students (ninth grade, N = 2,565, mean age 15.3 years, SD = 0.56) were analyzed with structural equation modeling. Before testing of the main model, the construct validity of mediators (outcome expectancy scales) was supported with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling. The final model was tested with structural equation modeling, and the goodness-of-fit indices and the proportion of direct and indirect effects were analyzed.

RESULTS

Our mediational model had an excellent model fit, and this study supported both the proposed sensation seeking-->positive and negative reinforcement-->smoking behavior pathways and sensation seeking-->perceived peer smoking-->positive and negative reinforcement-->smoking behavior pathways. The total indirect effect explains 76% of sensation seeking and smoking association. Results support the notion that positive and negative reinforcement expectancies mediate between sensation seeking and smoking.

DISCUSSION

Results support the notion that perceived peer smoking, positive and negative reinforcement expectancies mediate between sensation seeking and smoking.

Non-smoking youths' "perceived" addiction to tobacco is associated with their susceptibility to future smoking

Smoking initiation places adolescents at risk for adult onset diseases, including heart disease, respiratory illness, and cancer. Adolescents that smoke have levels of 'perceived' tobacco addiction that are associated with several measures of nicotine dependence. Nonsmoking adolescents also report feeling addicted to tobacco even with minimal or no prior tobacco use, suggesting some vulnerability to tobacco use. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between perceived tobacco addiction and smoking susceptibility among adolescents with very minimal tobacco use. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted of data obtained from 5155 nonsmokers who completed the British Columbia Youth Survey of Smoking and Health II, a school-based survey conducted during 2004. Measures included demographics, tobacco use (ever puffed a cigarette), substance use (marijuana and alcohol), exposure to family members' smoking in the home, peers' tobacco use, depressive symptoms, perceived physical and mental addiction to tobacco, and smoking susceptibility. The adolescents who were most susceptible to smoking were female, younger and in a lower school grade; had ever puffed a cigarette, had used alcohol or marijuana; had family members or peers who smoked; had higher depression scores, and higher perceived physical and mental addiction to tobacco. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, perceived mental addiction but not perceived physical addiction to tobacco was significantly associated with smoking susceptibility. Understanding factors associated with smoking initiation, and ways to identify "at- risk" adolescents can enhance early intervention and prevention programs. Perceived mental addiction to tobacco appears to be an important indicator of smoking susceptibility.

Do researcher-derived classifications of youths' smoking behavior correspond with youths' characterizations of their behavior?

AIMS

To describe the categories employed by researchers to describe adolescents' smoking behavior and to determine how these various categorizations compare with youths' self-defined smoking status.

STUDY SELECTION

A search of the PubMed and Science Direct databases, limited to articles in the English language, published between January 2002 and November 2007.

DATA EXTRACTION

Employing a mixed methods approach, several categories of youths' smoking status were obtained from a literature review and subsequently reproduced by using responses to detailed questionnaire items. Associations between the researcher-derived smoking categories (from the literature review) and the youths' self-reported smoking status, from survey data, were determined.

RESULTS

The categories of smoking status, from the literature review, varied in definition and in the number of categories. The associations between the literature-based categories and the youths' self-reported smoking status were modest.

CONCLUSIONS

Researcher-derived categories of youths' smoking status may not adequately encapsulate youths' perceptions of their own smoking behavior. There is a need to better describe adolescents' smoking behavior with special consideration of the ways in which adolescents characterize their own smoking behavior.

An examination of the relationship between adolescents' initial smoking experience and their exposure to peer and family member smoking

Sensitivity to the initial smoking experience, upon initial smoking experimentation, is associated with youth smoking. We determined the association between exposure to smoking from peers and family members on the symptoms of the initial smoking experience of adolescents. Data from a survey of 3280 high school students in the British Columbia, Canada were obtained; including information on demographics, tobacco use history, symptoms of initial smoking experience, and the smoking behaviours of peers and family member's (from which an 'exposure to smoking from peers and family members' variable was created). In multivariate logistic regression models, individuals with higher scores on the 'exposure to smoking from peers and family members' variable were more likely to report positive symptoms of initial smoking experience, even after controlling for confounding variables. Higher scores on the 'exposure to smoking from peers and family members' variable was associated with increased 'initial smoking experience' scores. Initial smoking experience scores (i.e. total number of reported initial symptoms) weakly mediated the relationship between exposure to smoking from peers and family members and current smoking. The present findings suggest that exposure to smoking from peers and family members may be an important factor to consider in understanding youths initial smoking experiences.

A Multi-Level Analysis Examining how Smoking Friends, Parents, and Older Students in the School Environment are Risk Factors for Susceptibility to Smoking Among Non-Smoking Elementary School Youth

The purpose of this study was to examine how social models for smoking are related to smoking susceptibility among a sample of non-smoking elementary school students. The Tobacco Module of the School Health Action, Planning and Evaluation System (SHAPES) was administered to 6,431 students (grades 6 to 8) in 57 elementary schools in the province of Ontario, Canada. Multi-level logistic regression analysis was used to examine how smoking friends, parents, and the prevalence of smoking among grade 8 students at a school were related to smoking susceptibility among the 2,478 non-smoking grade 6 and 7 students. Findings indicate that non-smoking grade 6 and 7 students are more likely to be susceptible to smoking if they have (a) smoking friends, (b) a mother who smokes, or (c) two or more close friends who smoke and attend a school with a relatively high smoking rate among the grade 8 students. Sub-populations of non-smoking youth may be at increased risk for smoking because of the elementary school they attend. Future school-based smoking prevention programs might benefit from targeting prevention programming activities to the schools that are putting students at the greatest risk for smoking.

The influence of friends, family, and older peers on smoking among elementary school students: low-risk students in high-risk schools

BACKGROUND

This study examined how older smoking peers at school and the smoking behaviour of friends and family members are related to youth smoking.

METHODS

Multi-level logistic regression analysis was used to examine correlates of ever smoking in a sample of 4286 grade 6 and 7 students from 57 elementary schools in Ontario, Canada (2001).

RESULTS

Each 1% increase in the smoking rate among grade 8 students increased the odds that a student in grades 6 or 7 was an ever smoker versus never smoker [OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.08]. A low-risk student (no family or friends who smoke) was almost three times more likely to try smoking if he/she attended an elementary school with a relatively high prevalence of senior students who smoke than if he/she attended a school with a low prevalence of senior students who smoke.

CONCLUSION

Low-risk grade 6 and 7 students are at significantly greater risk of smoking if they attend an elementary school with a relatively high prevalence of smoking among senior students. Prevention programs should target both at-risk schools and at-risk students.

Social modeling in the school environment, student characteristics, and smoking susceptibility: a multi-level analysis

PURPOSE

To examine how social models in the school environment and individual student characteristics are related to smoking susceptibility.

METHODS

Using data from the School Smoking Profile Project, multi-level logistic regression analysis was used to identify school and student characteristics related to smoking susceptibility among 6679 never smokers from 29 secondary schools in Ontario, Canada.

RESULTS

If a nonsmoking student attended a school where there was student smoking on the school periphery, he or she was less likely to be susceptible to smoking (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.57-0.89). A significant contextual interaction between the smoking on the school periphery and friends' disapproval of smoking was identified (beta = 0.68 [0.23], p < .01]; students with friends who disapprove of smoking were more likely to be susceptible to smoking if they attended a school with student smoking on the school periphery.

CONCLUSION

Nonsmoking students who attend a school with student smoking on the school periphery are at an increased risk for being susceptible to smoking if they have friends who disapprove of smoking. Future school-based smoking prevention programs might benefit from targeting both individual students and entire schools with programming activities.

Cross-cultural equivalence of feeding beliefs and practices: the psychometric properties of the child feeding questionnaire among Blacks and Hispanics

BACKGROUND

Psychometrically sound measures are considered a necessary condition for valid research. This study used structural equation modeling to examine the cross-cultural equivalence of a widely used measure of parental beliefs and practices regarding child feeding, the Child Feeding Questionnaire [Birch L.L., Fisher J.O., Grimm-Thomas K., Markey C.N., Sawyer R., Johnson S.L. Confirmatory factor analysis of the child feeding questionnaire: a measure of parental attitudes, beliefs and practices about child feeding and obesity proneness. Appetite 2001;36:201-10].

METHODS

Low-income parents of 101 Black and 130 Hispanic pre-school children (126 girls, 105 boys) completed a reduced version of the CFQ.

RESULTS

Confirmatory factor analyses using LISREL 8.51 supported the hypothesized factor structure but revealed cross-cultural conceptual problems on the perceived child weight factor and problematic items on the restriction factor that were addressed in a modified model. Invariance analyses demonstrated invariance of factor structure, loadings, and covariances in the modified model across ethnic groups. MANCOVA, that controlled for parent BMI and marital status, revealed ethnic differences on the child feeding responsibility, child weight concern, and perceived weight of child factors that were moderated by parent education and child BMI.

CONCLUSIONS

Results supported the use of a modified version of the CFQ among Blacks and Hispanics and revealed no ethnic differences on factor scores, except on interactions with parent education and overweight status of child.

Smoking expectancy associates among college smokers

Although it has been suggested that implicit expectancies influence smoking and other addictive behaviors, there is little direct evidence to support this notion. This study offers the first step in exploring implicit expectancy operation in cigarette smoking. Ninety-nine college smokers completed the sentence, "Smoking makes one_____." with as many words as possible within 30 s, developing a list of expectancy associates. The results of the sentence completion task were positively correlated with an explicit measure of smoking-related expectancies. Future studies will be able to use the expectancy associates developed by this study to employ implicit memory tasks and further the understanding of the role of smoking-related expectancies.

Measuring adolescent smoking expectancies by incorporating judgments about the expected time of occurrence of smoking outcomes

French and English Canadian adolescents completed a smoking expectancy questionnaire and 2 measures of current smoking status. Multiple regression revealed that beliefs about the expected time of occurrence of smoking outcomes explained unique variance in current smoking after controlling for judgments about the probability and desirability of these outcomes. In addition, the relationship between the perceived probability of the general costs of smoking and current smoking was moderated by beliefs about the expected time of occurrence of these costs. There was no relationship between perceived probability of general costs and smoking for adolescents who expected the costs to occur far in the future, whereas there was a significant negative relationship between these 2 variables for adolescents who expected the costs to occur soon after smoking. The authors' results suggest that it may be possible to increase the concurrent validity of traditional smoking expectancy measures by incorporating expected-time-of-occurrence judgments.

Prevalence and predictors of transitions in smoking behavior among college students

The prevalence of smoking among college students is surprisingly high and represents a significant public health issue. However, there are few longitudinal studies of smoking in this population. This study examined the prevalence and predictors of transitions in smoking behavior among a cohort of 548 college students. Over the course of 4 years, 87% of daily smokers and almost 50% of occasional smokers continued to smoke. Among nonsmokers, 11.5% began smoking occasionally and none became daily smokers. In general, predictors of smoking behavior change were significant only among baseline occasional smokers and included gender, smoking outcome expectancies, and affect regulation expectations. Peer and parental smoking, demographics, affect, stress, and alcohol use were generally not predictive of change. Tobacco control interventions targeted at college students are clearly warranted.