Are social norms associated with smoking in French university students?
A survey report on smoking correlates (France) French researchers recently attempted to determine whether social norms were predictors of tobacco use among college students, controlling for other factors associated with smoking. A cross sectional survey was completed by 721 second-year French university students. Eight variables were found to be significant predictors of smoking including marijuana use, binge drinking, being unsupportive of smoke-free universities, perceived approval of smoking by friends, high perceived smoking prevalence among friends, positive perceptions toward tobacco, reporting not being bothered by smoking at school, and being female. Based on these findings, the researchers suggest that university-based health campaigns should take into account the link between smoking and other substance abuse, students’ perceptions of smoking among friends (descriptive norms), and friends’ approval of smoking (injunctive norms). Click here to read the full study published in
