Final answer:
Under stress, college students who smoke are likely to increase their cigarette consumption, using it as a mechanism to cope with stress.
Step-by-step explanation:
When under stress, college students who smoke tend to smoke more. Stress can act as a trigger for increasing cigarette consumption as a coping mechanism. This is because nicotine can create a temporary, yet addictive, sense of relief from stress. However, this behavior only provides short-term relief and can lead to greater health risks. Individuals may engage in rationalizations, such as believing that smoking is less harmful if they use filtered cigarettes, or creating justifications like smoking to suppress appetite and prevent weight gain. Nevertheless, these cognitions do not reduce the health risks associated with smoking, which can include a higher likelihood of developing respiratory diseases, heart conditions, and certain types of cancer compared to non-smokers.