Examining differences in health perceptions, subjective experience, and personality across smoking groups

Abstract

Many people in the United States continue to smoke or cannot quit even when they try despite having clear knowledge that it is unhealthy. While most research examines the role of knowledge and policy on smoking behavior, other factors such as personality traits and implicit motives may drive smoking in ways that cannot be altered by knowledge or external pressures. For example, smoking, low education and dropping out of school could be interrelated through personality traits like impulsivity, rebelliousness or sensation seeking. Some research has examined these issues, but without examining the fundamental relationship among these variables. Study 1 asked current smokers, non-smokers, and former smokers who quit, across differing levels of education to rate smoking on a variety of dimensions. Smokers thought that smoking was less unhealthy and more enjoyable, and dropouts of all ages were more likely to smoke. Study 2 replicated these effects, finding that smokers thought smoking was less unhealthy and more enjoyable, but they were not more impulsive on a variety of tasks, casting doubt on common assumption about tobacco addiction. Importantly, quitters had different reasons for smoking than current smokers, as they were more driven by image enhancement and the drive to experiment than the sheer enjoyment of the behavior or its role in stress reduction. Overall, those who still smoke have different beliefs about smoking and reasons for starting and maintaining the behavior that need to be recognized to reduce rates of smoking.