Fan-Ni Hsia, Department of Learning and Instruction, University of Southern California, 1000 S. Fremont Ave., unit # 8, room 4101, Alhambra, CA 91803, 626-289-6963, hsta@usc.edu and Donna Spruijt-Metz, MFA, PhD, Institute for Prevention Research, University of Southern California, 1000 South Fremont, unit #8, Alhambra, CA 91803.

Cigarette smoking on college campuses has increased throughout the nation. It is important to examine the determinants of smoking in college populations. Self-esteem has been explored in smoking research as a possible buffer for tobacco use. However, few studies address the association between self-esteem and smoking in college populations. Among these studies, results have been inconsistent. This may be due to the fact that global measures of self-esteem are frequently used. These overly general measures may mask important distinctions that individuals made across different domains of their lives. Cigarette smoking may therefore be related to domain-specific self-esteem but not to more frequently used global self-esteem measures. The main purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between domain-specific aspects of self-esteem and smoking in college populations. 814 college students (245 males and 566 females) from three California Colleges/Universities participated in this study. Self Description Question-III (Marsh, 1987) was used to assess student’s self-esteem in seven domains- Math, Verbal, Relationships with parents, Impulse control, Mastery and coping, Peer relationships, and General academic performance. Bivariate analysis revealed that Math self-esteem, Relationship with parents, and Impulse control were significantly related to smoking. These three domain-specific measures of self-esteem were then included in a structural equation model. Only Math self-esteem and relationship with parents retained association with college smoking. No gender difference emerged. Further research is required to interpret the relationship between math self esteem and smoking. Results suggest that positive relationships with parents protect against smoking through college.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to
• Understand that self-esteem is one of the key determinants of cigarette smoking in college populations and cigarette smoking may be related to domain-specific self-esteem but not to more frequently used global self-esteem measures.
• Define self-esteem in seven domains and identify which domain-specifc self-esteem are more related to college smoking.
• Develop a guideline for a smoking intervention program which include the component of self-esteem enhancement.

Keywords: College Students, Smoking

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.