Attitudes Toward Cigarette Smoking Among College Students
College Student Journal › Vol. 42 Nbr. 2, June 2008
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Summary
The purpose of the current study was to gather data on the attitudes and smoking habits of university students. Data were collected from 250 undergraduates dealing with various aspects of smoking behavior. There were 80 smokers and 170 nonsmokers, including 21 former smokers. In addition to demographic information, participants were assessed with respect to chronic self-destructiveness, locus of control, and hypergender ideology. Findings indicated significant positive relationships among willingness to date, marry, live with, and have sex with a smoker. Hypermasculinity was positively related to chronic self-destructiveness. Hyperfemininity was not related to chronic self-destructiveness. Nicotine dependence was also positively related to chronic self-destructiveness, but unrelated to hypergender ideology. Scores on the Chronic Self-Destructiveness Scale predicted regular smoking for both men and women. Implications of the results in terms of smoking prevention and smoking cessation programs are discussed.
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Extract
Attitudes Toward Cigarette Smoking Among College Students
Cigarette smoking has been recognized for decades as a serious addiction. It has been labeled as an epidemic by some researchers (e.g., Leventhal & Cleary, 1980; Rowe, Chassin, Presson, Edwards, & Sherman, 1992; Rowe, Chassin, Presson, & Sherman, 1996). Cigarette-related deaths are the most preventable of all causes of death (Barton, Chassin, Presson, & Sherman, 1982; Chassin, Presson, Pitts, & Sherman, 2000; Fearnow, Chassin, Presson, & Sherman, 1998; Orlando, Tucker, Ellickson, & Klein, 2004; Viswesvaran & Schmidt, 1992). Smoking is related to a host of medical problems, including dis eases of the heart, lungs, breasts, prostate, pancreas, and kidneys (Conrad, Flay, & Hill, 1992; DeBernardo et al., 1999; Ernster, 1986; Godin, Valois, LePage, & Desharnais, 1992; Guilford, 1972;Helvig, Sobell, Sobell, & Simco, 2006; Leventhal & Avis, 1976; Leventhal & Cleary, 1980; Segall & Wynd, 1990). It is also implicated in sexual and reproductive problems. The link between smoking and erectile dysfunction has been well-documented (Dinsmore, 1996; Tengs & Osgood, 2001). Smoking has also been implicat...
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