Some researchers have attributed these increases specifically to the transition to college (McKee, Hinson, Rounsaville, & Petrelli, selleck chem 2004). During that transition, increases occur in both the initiation of smoking and the movement to regular smoking (Wechsler, Rigotti, Gledhill-Hoyt, & Lee, 1998). However, White et al. (2005) reported that it is the transition out of high school, rather than into college, that puts individuals at risk for increased substance use. They found that increases in cigarette quantity/frequency were greater for noncollege than college-bound youth. In sum, emerging adulthood represents an important life stage in which transitions in cigarette smoking often occur. This study focuses on within-individual transitions in smoking from adolescence into emerging adulthood.
Previous research Relatively little is known about the nature of transitions in smoking during emerging adulthood (Mayhew, Flay, & Mott, 2000; Shadel, Shiffman, Niaura, Nichter, & Abrams, 2000). About one-third to one-half of those who try cigarettes eventually become regular (Kessler, 1995) or dependent (Shiffman, 1991) smokers. However, some individuals maintain long-term cigarette smoking without becoming dependent (Shiffman, 1991; Shiffman & Paty, 2006). Light and intermittent smoking is an increasingly common pattern, with about one-fourth of U.S. smokers smoking less than daily (Shiffman & Paty, 2006). The fact that individuals can smoke regularly without becoming addicted suggests that tobacco exposure alone does not predict addiction (Heyman & Gibb, 2006).
Therefore, it is important to understand what protects light and intermittent smokers (also referred to as chippers) from becoming dependent smokers. Demographic differences have been noted between light and intermittent and heavy smokers. Women compared with men, minorities compared with Whites, and younger compared with older respondents are more likely to be light and intermittent than heavy smokers (Okuyemi et al., 2002). Some research suggests that motivations for smoking may differ between light and intermittent and heavy smokers (Hajek, West, & Wilson, 1995; Moran, Wechsler, & Rigotti, 2004; Okuyemi et al., 2002; Shiffman, Kassel, Paty, Gnys, & Zettler-Segal, 1994). Further, Shiffman and Paty (2006) found that smoking by light and intermittent smokers, compared with heavy smokers, was under more stimulus control.
A key stimulus for smoking is alcohol drinking (Shiffman & Balabanis, 1996). McKee et al. (2004) found that 74% of all smoking occasions among college students occurred while under the influence of alcohol, and this percentage was higher for light smokers (86%) than for Brefeldin_A heavier smokers (63%). Binge-drinking episodes increased the likelihood that smoking would occur and would be pleasurable. Moran et al.