Social influences on use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and hookah by college students. Issue 4 (18th May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Noland, Melody; Ickes, Melinda J.; Rayens, Mary Kay; Butler, Karen; Wiggins, Amanda T.; Hahn, Ellen J.
• Is Part Of: Journal of American college health. Volume 64:Issue 4(2016)
• Page Start: 319
• Page End: 328
• Publication Date: 2016-05-18
• Subjects: College students -- social influences -- tobacco prevention; College students -- Health and hygiene -- United States -- Periodicals; College students -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; College students -- Mental health -- Periodicals; Universities and colleges -- Health promotion services -- Periodicals; 362.10883781980973
• DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2016.1138478
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0744-8481

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Objectives : (1) Compare social norms and perceived peer use between college student cigarette, e-cigarette, and/or hookah users and nonusers; and (2) determine variables associated with social influences.Participants : Undergraduate students attending a large university in the Southeast United States ( N = 511).Methods : An April 2013 online survey assessed use of 3 types of tobacco, social norms, perception of peer use, number of smokers in life, exposure to secondhand smoke, and demographic characteristics.Results : Participants indicated greater acceptance of emerging tobacco products than for cigarettes and consistently overestimated the percent of peers who use various tobacco products. Males and current users had higher social norm scores for all 3 forms of tobacco.Conclusion : To counter marketing of alternative tobacco products, education about the dangers of their use needs to be implemented across college campuses as part of a comprehensive tobacco control strategy that also includes tobacco-free campus policies.