“I Smoke but I Am Not a Smoker”: Phantom Smokers and the Discrepancy Between Self-identity and Behavior
- 23 September 2010
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis Ltd in Journal of American College Health
- Vol. 59 (2), 117-125
- https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2010.483704
Abstract
Objective: This article presents the development of a new smoking status, the “phantom smokers,” who do not view themselves as smokers but report smoking cigarettes. Participants: Students from 2 universities in Michigan (N = 899; October 2005) and Florida (N = 1,517; May 2006) participated in surveys. Methods: Respondents in Michigan completed measures regarding smoking status and tobacco use, and respondents in Florida completed measures regarding smoking status, tobacco use, smoking consequences, and norms. Results: The studies identify the incidence of phantom smokers (29.6% in Michigan and 5.5% in Florida). Different questions resulted in different smoking rates. Phantom smokers expect more negative affect reduction and social facilitation from smoking than nonsmokers. Phantom smokers display ambivalent attitudes toward a typical smoker's image. They experience less pressure to change their smoking behavior than smokers. Conclusion: Phantom smokers’ dissociation from smokers should be recognized and targeted as a distinct group for antismoking messages.Keywords
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