1. Female smoking behaviour:lifestyle and psychosocialrisk
factors.
Abstract
Objective. To investigate lifestyle differences between smokers, ex-smokers
and non-smokers on a number of psychosocial, personality and behavioural
variables. The health related attitudes and behaviours of smokers will be
compared to those of ex-smokers and non-smokers. Factors studied will
include familial closeness, self-consciousness, sexual risk taking, substance
use, diet, exercise, health locus of control and preventative health
behaviours. Similarities and differences within these areas will be identified
and analysed, to highlight variables that may act as indicators or predictors
for the commencement, maintenance or cessation of female smoking
behaviour.
Design. The questionnaire design involves 70 females aged from 18 - 30
who are smokers (N=20), ex-smokers (N=17) or non-smokers (N=33).
Method. The respondents were invited to report their attitudes regarding
their; childhood familial relationships, self-consciousness, sexual behaviour,
substance use, health behaviours and locus of control. Measures were taken
using various instruments including the Closeness to Parents scale, Self
Consciousness and Social Anxiety scale and the Multi-dimensional Health
locus of Control scale.
Results. These indicate that social anxiety plays an important and
statistically significant role in the commencement and maintenance of
smoking behaviour. Other significant differences were observed between the
groups with regard to; numbers of lifetime sexual partners, condom usage,
substance use and some locus of control measures.
Conclusion. Social anxiety appears to be an important predictive measure
of smoking behaviour. It may be useful in intervention programmes to
identify the levels of support needed by an individual trying to stop smoking.
This measure along with other variables investigated would indicate that
there are quantifiable differences between smokers, ex-smokers and non-
smokers.