College students' smoker identity varies with physical activity levels

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.