Reasons for Smoking among College Students

The aim of the study was to examine reasons for smoking among college students as well as reasons that may make them consider quitting smoking. The sample consisted of 66 undergraduate students identified as smokers in a survey of 1000 undergraduate students (488 boys and 512 girls) in the age range of 17 to 21 years studying in thirteen colleges in Bangalore City. The survey used the Susceptibility to Smoking Scale (Pierce, et al, 1998) to detect smokers. A semi-structured interview schedule was used to examine four domains of smoking related issues: (i) Pathways to Smoking (ii) Smoking Expectancies (iii) Negative Smoking Consequences (iv) Motivation to Quit Smoking. Results revealed that peer influence, academic stress and problems in the family context were important reasons for initiating smoking. Positive expectancies such as beliefs that smoking reduces tension and gives pleasure, maintained the smoking behaviour. Two thirds of the sample was unaware of the adverse consequences of smoking while one third had contemplated quitting smoking. The findings have implications for planning early interventions for smoking among college students.