ABSTRACT: The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine the
impact of personality factors (neuroticism, extraversion, openness,
agreeableness, and conscientiousness), cognitive factors (sense of coherence and
self-efficacy), coping resources (family and friend social support) and
demographic factors (gender and ethnicity) on cigarette smoking behaviors
(initiation, frequency, and amount of cigarette smoking) among college students.
A total of 161 U.S. college students, aged 18-26, who enrolled in an introductory
psychology course completed self-report questionnaires. The majority of the
students had tried smoking (55%); among those who had tried, 42% were current
smokers. The majority (77%) who had smoked a whole cigarette did so at age 16
years or younger. Students who reported lower levels of conscientiousness and
self-efficacy had a greater likelihood to had tried cigarette smoking. Also,
students who had lower levels of self-efficacy reported smoking more frequently
and greater quantities of cigarettes than students with higher levels of selfefficacy.
Self-efficacy was the most significant predictor of smoking behaviors.
Health promotion programs focused on self-efficacy may be an effective tool for
reducing the initiation, frequency, and amount of cigarette smoking among
college students.