Smoking too young: students' decisions about tobacco use

Tobacco Dependence Among French University Students: A Cluster Analytic Approach to Identifying Distinct Psychological Profiles of Smokers

This study investigates the combination of several psychological factors related to tobacco smoking to identify smokers’ psychological profiles among French university students. A cluster analysis was performed on smoking motives, psychosocial variables, and the smoker identity ( N = 909). Five profiles were identified and then compared regarding tobacco dependence and motivations to quit. “Normative” and “sociohedonist smokers” are characterized by two distinct social factors (normative influences and social motives) and moderate dependence. “Dependent identified smokers” have higher levels of dependence motives, smoker identity and tobacco dependence associated with low motivations to quit. “Inconsistent smokers” have weak smoker identity and weak smoking motives, a strong perceived control over resisting smoking, low dependence and motivations to quit. “Coping smokers” have strong sedative and addictive motives and exhibit moderate dependence and motivations to quit. This research encourages prevention programs to consider the diversity of student smokers with strategies adapted to their psychological profiles.

Gender and socioeconomic disparities in reasons for not smoking cigarettes among Danish adolescents

OBJECTIVE

To examine gender and socioeconomic differences in adolescents' reasons for not smoking cigarettes using self-reported data from Danish 14-year-olds (N = 1,559) collected in 2018. χ2-tests were used to assess whether the proportion of students who rated 12 statements as important reasons for not smoking cigarettes differed according to gender and family occupational social class (OSC).

RESULTS

More girls than boys stated that thinking the taste of cigarettes is disgusting, not being allowed to smoke by parents, knowing smoking is dangerous, not being allowed to smoke before the age of 18, not wanting to be addicted to smoking, and that smoking makes you smell bad were important reasons for choosing not to smoke cigarettes. More boys than girls reported exercising a lot and having a partner that does not smoke as important reasons for not smoking cigarettes. More students with a high OSC compared with a low OSC stated exercising a lot and that smoking makes you smell bad were important reasons. In conclusion, reasons for not smoking cigarettes differed substantially across gender and less according to socioeconomic position.

Comparison of the health and well-being of smoking and non-smoking school-aged children in Ireland

BACKGROUND

Although most young people are aware of the long-term consequences of smoking, it has been shown that young smokers expect to give up before any health damage occurs. Little is known in an Irish context about the association between smoking and young people's current health. This could be helpful to help reduce smoking initiation and encouraging quitting. The study aimed to determine the association between smoking and health and well-being indicators among Irish school-aged children.

METHODS

The 2014 Irish Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study was analysed, which comprised a random stratified sample of 9,623 schoolchildren (aged 10-18). The prevalence of eight self-reported health complaints and two subjective well-being measures were compared across strata classified by self-reported smoking status using Pearson's chi square and independent t tests. Logistic regression and ordinal regression were used to control for age, gender, and social class.

RESULTS

A significantly larger proportion of smokers (p < .001) reported fair to poor health (32% versus 11% for non-smokers), lower mean life satisfaction scores (6.2 compared with 7.5), and each of eight health complaints at least once a week (range = 25-50% compared with 15-21%). These patterns remained significant after adjusting for differences in age, gender, and social class profile (p < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

The study demonstrates the potential of developing initiatives, which target smoking in adolescence as opposed to the longer term health effects of smoking which are well known. The findings can be utilized to counteract positive perceptions of smoking among schoolchildren. This, combined with providing supports to help children quit, may help achieve government targets to reduce smoking prevalence.

Predictors of Smoking Cessation Among College Students in a Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial

An effective strategy to quit smoking should consider demographic aspects, smoking-related characteristics and psychological factors. This study examined potential predictors of smoking cessation in Spanish college students. A total of 255 college student smokers (18-24 years old), recruited to a cessation trial (Spain, 2013-2014), comprised an observational cohort. The main outcome was biochemically verified (urine cotinine) abstinence at the 6-month follow-up. Baseline potential predictors included socio-demographic, smoking-related and psychological variables (Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND), expired monoxide level (CO), intention to quit, previous quit attempts, participation in previous multicomponent programmes and confidence in quitting). Logistic regression models were used to identify potential predictors, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was used to discriminate the capacity of the predictors and the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test was used to assess model calibration. After 6 months of follow-up, variables related to high nicotine dependence, FTND and expired CO levels were associated with lower odds of quitting smoking (OR = 0.69 [95% CI 0.54-0.89] and 0.84 [0.77-0.92], respectively). Furthermore, being prepared to change (OR = 3.98 [1.49-10.64], p = 0.006) and being confident to quit (OR = 4.73 [2.12-10.55], p < 0.001) were also potential predictors of smoking cessation. The model that combined all these variables had the best predictive validity (AUC = 0.84 [0.78-0.91], p = 0.693) and showed good predictive capacity (χ² = 10.36, p = 0.241). Findings highlight that, in this population of college student smokers, having a lower level of nicotine dependence, being prepared to quit and having the confidence in the ability to quit were associated with smoking cessation, and these factors had good predictive capacity.

Predicting Tobacco Use across the First Year of College

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to assess patterns of tobacco use across the first year of college, transitions in use, and associated predictors.

METHODS

The frequency of tobacco use (cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, and hookah) during the fall and spring of 4073 college students' first year at college were used as indicators in latent class (LCA) and latent transition analyses (LTA).

RESULTS

The LCA yielded 3 classes that represent levels of use frequency and not specific tobacco product classes: non-using, experimenting, and frequent using. The LTA results demonstrate stability in class membership from fall to spring. The most common transition was for the fall experimenters to transition out of experimentation. A series of demographic, environmental, and intrapersonal predictors were found to influence both fall class membership, and transitions from fall to spring.

CONCLUSIONS

Students are likely to use multiple alternative tobacco products along with cigarettes. Their frequency of use of these products is fairly stable across the first year of college. Predictors reflecting experiences during the first year of college had the greatest impact on college tobacco use, demonstrating the importance of the college experience on young adult tobacco use.

A qualitative study on Canadian youth's perspectives of peers who smoke: an opportunity for health promotion

Background

Peer influence, peer selection, and health risk awareness are factors in smoking among youth. Despite the numerous studies on the social context, social network, and how youth define themselves and their smoking status in relation to tobacco use, qualitative knowledge about the role of smoking within peer relationships from youth themselves is only emerging. In this paper, qualitative findings describing Canadian youth’s perspectives and experiences of smoking within the context of peer relationships are presented.

Methods

To examine youth’s perceptions, a qualitative research study design was used. Seventy-five Canadian youth aged 11–19 years participated in open-ended interviews, focus groups, and photovoice methods. Data analysis involved several levels of analysis consistent with qualitative research.

Results

Youth who smoked were perceived by non-smoking peers as less popular and less socially accepted as represented by the theme: The coolness (not so cool) factor. Non-smoking youth felt that peers who smoked strained relationships and forced them to set boundaries and negotiate friendships as denoted by the theme: Negotiating friendships: Being influenced, but also influencing. Finally, in the theme of Making sense of peers who smoke, youth struggled to understand peers who continued to smoke and why they would start in the first place.

Conclusions

As reinforced in this study, Canadian youth increasingly view smoking as unhealthy and uncool. Moreover, youth report resisting peer influence to smoke and in fact, are now influencing their friends who smoke to quit. The self-empowerment stories of non-smoker youth reinforces the idea that the social meaning of smoking with peers is continuing to change from one where youth accepted and participated in the smoking behaviors of their peers, to an environment where youth’s perceptions of personal health is paramount. Findings from this study could be used to guide health promotion and smoking prevention programs and campaigns for youth.

Retail promotions and perceptions of R.J. Reynolds' novel dissolvable tobacco in a US test market

Background

With declining cigarette sales, tobacco manufacturers have been developing and marketing new smokeless products, such as R. J. Reynolds' dissolvable tobacco, Camel Sticks, Strips and Orbs. This study assessed the availability, price and point-of-purchase promotional strategies for Camel Dissolvables, and investigated consumer awareness, interest and perception of these products in the Indiana test market.

Methods

An exploratory retail audit of point-of-purchase promotions was conducted in a random sample of retailers from 6 store categories (n = 81) in the test market area. Data included: store type, location, product placement, forms/flavors carried, price, types and locations of advertisements and promotions, and ad messages. An Awareness-Attitude-Usage (AAU) survey was used to gauge consumer awareness and knowledge of tobacco products including Camel Dissolvables. Respondents were shown promotional materials from a package onsert and perceptions and interest in the Camel Dissolvables were assessed. An Intended Target Survey (ITS) compared subjects' perceptions of ad targets for several non-tobacco products, as well as Camel Snus, Camel No. 9 and Camel Dissolvables. Respondents were asked to identify each ad's intended target category, perceived targetedness, and purchase intent.

Results

The products were carried by 46% of stores, most frequently gas stations (100%) and convenience stores (75%). They were shelved near smokeless tobacco (70%), cigarettes (25%) or candy (5%). Prices ranged from $3.59 -$4.19 per package; most stores carried at least 1 promotional item. Ad messages included: "Dissolvable Tobacco" (60%). "Free Trial" (24%), "Special Price" (24%), "What's Your Style?" (22%). At 14% of stores, free trial packs of Camel Dissolvables were offered with another Camel purchase. Awareness was reported by 42% of respondents (n = 243), and trial by 3%. Consumer interest was very low, but younger respondents (< 40 years) were more familiar with Camel Dissolvables (60% vs. 45% for those > 40 years, p < .01). Males, as well as current and former smokers had higher rates of interest and trial; only 1% of never smokers reported trial. In the ITS, only for the 3 tobacco product ads, was perceived targetedness for smokers significantly higher than for non-smokers. Smokers and nonsmokers perceived that the ads targeted smokers.

Conclusions

Current retail promotional strategies for Camel Sticks, Strips & Orbs appear to be targeting a select audience, primarily current smokers. Overall, consumer awareness, interest and trial were low.