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.

CANNABIS (Genus); CHI-squared test; CONFIDENCE intervals; STATISTICAL correlation; ALCOHOL drinking; MEDICAL cooperation; QUESTIONNAIRES; RESEARCH; RESEARCH funding; STATISTICAL sampling; SMOKING; TIME; TOBACCO; LOGISTIC regression analysis; DATA analysis software; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; ODDS ratio

Introduction: 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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