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College students' smoker identity varies with physical activity levels


Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Sandra Bentley, PharmD, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS
Jared Grigg, B.S., Department of Psychology, University of Mississippi, University, MS
Sean Hollis, B.S., Department of Psychology, University of Mississippi, University, MS
Laura McIntire, M.S., Department of Psychology, University of Mississippi, University, MS
Joshua Fulwiler, B.S., Department of Psychology, University of Mississippi, University, MS
Thomas Lombardo, Ph.D., Department of Psychology, University of Mississippi, University, MS
College undergraduates represent a substantial proportion of the smoking population, and 14.7% report smoking in the last 30 days (National College Health Assessment). Level of smoker identity (degree of viewing oneself as a smoker; SI) predicts smoking rates, nicotine dependence, and confidence in quitting success (Tracy, Lombardo, & Bentley, 2012). Evidence shows that physical activity (PA) is associated with reduced risk of smoking initiation and progression and increased cessation. We surveyed a college sample to determine whether PA affects SI. Student patients of a university pharmacy were surveyed on PA, SI, smoking behavior, and other variables. PA level was categorized based on previously published methods to reflect CDC and WHO recommendations (combining exercise frequency, intensity, and duration). Categories were collapsed into three groups: Inactive/Nearly Inactive, Active, and Very Active. The 1425 valid surveys showed 17.1% of the sample smoked (6.1% ‘every day;' 11.1% ‘some days'). A two-factor ANOVA (PA X Smoking Frequency) on SI showed the expected significant effect of Smoking Frequency on SI, with larger means for ‘every day' smokers than ‘some days' smokers (p < .001) and a significant interaction (p = .04). For the latter, Tukey HSD tests showed all points between the two Smoking Frequency groups differed – except for the Very Active ‘every day' smoker group. These correlational results suggest that high level PA may reduce SI, and they add to evidence on potential benefits of PA for smoking cessation and prevention strategies. They also cross-validate initial tests of our SI scale for college students.

Learning Areas:

Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Compare differences in college students' smoker identity based on their physical activity levels and smoking frequency. Discuss why smoker identity is an important tool when asking college students about their smoking behaviors.

Keyword(s): Tobacco, Physical Activity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Since 2002 I have had direct experience providing tobacco cessation. I have been a co-investigator for a funded grant that was renewed for five years and primary investigator for 2 additional years. I authored and co-authored six paper presentations at various national meetings including society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco and American College Health Association (ACHA). I also provided an oral presentation on tobacco cessation at an ACHA national meeting.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.