Perceived invulnerability and cigarette smoking among adolescents.

Adolescent perceptions of invulnerability toward smoking and nonsmoking-related health risks were examined among 442 continuation high school students. Smokers were less likely than nonsmokers to report feeling invulnerable to both smoking and nonsmoking-related health risks. Among the smokers, those who reported feeling invulnerable to smoking-related health risks, compared to those who reported feeling vulnerable, smoked fewer cigarettes, were less addicted, were less likely to intend to smoke more in the future, attempted to quit fewer times in the past, valued their health more, and reported higher public body awareness. In a multiple logistic regression model, only high public body awareness, fewer previous attempts to quit, and being in the action stage of change (compared to being in the precontemplation stage of change) remained significant independent concurrent predictors of being in the invulnerable group. These results suggest, contrary to some previous work, that perceived invulnerability may be predictive of quitting tobacco use and may reflect relative invulnerability; that is, lighter use of tobacco.

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