The effect of a smoke-free campus policy on college students' smoking behaviors and attitudes

Prev Med. 2011 Oct;53(4-5):347-52. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2011.07.015. Epub 2011 Aug 9.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the impact of a smoke-free campus policy on college students' smoking behaviors and attitudes.

Methods: The current study utilized repeated cross-sectional surveys with a nested 4-wave longitudinal cohort design. Data were collected from undergraduate students at two large matched public universities in Indiana before and after one of the campuses went smoke-free in January 2008. Baseline data were collected in fall 2007 (n=3266) and follow-up data were collected in fall 2009 (n=3207). In addition, volunteers provided longitudinal follow-up data at four different time points.

Results: In the cross-sectional analyses, students exposed to the smoke-free campus policy demonstrated significant favorable changes in smoking behavior (16.5% to 12.8%, p<0.001), perceptions of peer tobacco use (73.6% to 66.8%, p<0.001), and smoking norms (45.5% to 40.4%, p<0.001) compared to students on the control campus. In the longitudinal analyses, students exposed to the smoke-free campus policy demonstrated these changes plus significant favorable changes in attitudes toward regulation of tobacco (83.2% to 89.9%, p<0.01).

Conclusions: The implementation of a smoke-free campus policy may be an effective intervention for reducing tobacco use among college students.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Attitude to Health*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Health Behavior*
  • Humans
  • Indiana
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Policy*
  • Prevalence
  • Smoking / epidemiology
  • Smoking / psychology*
  • Students*
  • Tobacco Smoke Pollution*
  • Universities
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Tobacco Smoke Pollution