Nonsmoking college students' attitudes toward smokers and smoking

Abstract

Although teenagers may begin smoking to enhance their social image, there is little evidence about how nonsmokers feel about their smoking peers or about nonsmokers' attitudes toward exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, so a 22-item questionnaire was administered to 547 nonsmoking college students. They reported that they were less likely to want a smoker for a roommate, date, or potential spouse. Most nonsmokers were bothered a great deal by environmental cigarette smoke and would want a smoke-free residence if living with a smoker. Almost all nonsmokers felt that environmental tobacco smoke increases the risk of serious disease. 92% strongly supported a ban on smoking in university classroom buildings and increased taxes on cigarettes.