Cigarette Use Among Young Adults: Comparisons Between 2-Year College Students, 4-Year College Students,and Those Not in College |
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| Authors: | Kathleen Lenk MPH Peter Rode MA Lindsey Fabian MPH Debra Bernat PhD Elizabeth Klein PhD MPH Jean Forster PhD MPH |
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| Institution: | 1. Division of Epidemiology and Community Health , University of Minnesota , Minneapolis , Minnesota;2. Minnesota Department of Health , St Paul , Minnesota;3. Department of Medical Humanities and Social Sciences , Florida State University College of Medicine , Tallahassee , Florida;4. Division of Health Behaviors and Health Promotion , Ohio State University College of Public Health , Columbus , Ohio |
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| Abstract: | Abstract Objective: To examine cigarette smoking among young adults based on education status. Participants: Community-based sample of 2,694 young adults in the United States Methods: The authors compared 3 groups—those not in college with no college degree, 2-year college students/graduates, 4-year college students/graduates—on various smoking measures: ever smoked, smoked in past month, smoked in past week, consider self a smoker, began smoking before age 15, smoked over 100 cigarettes in lifetime, ever tried to quit, and plan to quit in next year. Results: The authors found that for nearly all the smoking measures, the 4-year college group was at lowest risk, the noncollege group was at highest risk, and the 2-year college group represented a midpoint. Differences between groups remain after adjusting for parents’ education and other potential confounding factors. Conclusions: Smoking behaviors clearly differ between the 2-year, 4-year, and no college groups. Interventions should be tailored for each group. |
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| Keywords: | college education level smoking tobacco young adults |
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