Effects of smoking behavior and socioeconomic factors on smoking psychology in smokers

Objective To explore the effects of smoking behavior,knowledge of tobacco control and socioeconomic factors on smoking psychology among smokers in China.Methods Using Russell's Reason for Smoking Questionnaire(RRSQ) and a self-designed questionnaire,psychological reasons for smoking including imagery,mouth and hand activity,seeking indulgence,sedation,stimulation,addiction,and social needs and smoking behavior,knowledge of tobacco control as well as gender,occupation and other socioeconomic factors in smokers were investigated.Results Of the seven psychological reasons for smoking,1 006 smokers got high scores for social needs(5.86±2.47),sedation(5.72±2.44),seeking indulgence(5.34±2.46),and stimulation(5.25±2.60).Male smokers had higher scores than female smokers on social needs and seeking indulgence(P<0.01).The scores of social needs,seeking indulgence,and stimulation among the married smokers were significant higher than those of the unmarried smokers(P<0.05).Statistically significant differences were found in the social needs and seeking indulgence between smokers of medical staff and and other occupations,with higher scores in the medical staff smokers(P<0.05).The scores of social needs,sedation,seeking indulgence,and stimulation were positively associated with the age of starting smoking,years of smoking,daily amount of smoking and negatively associated with the knowledge of tobacco control.Conclusion Gender,occupation,marital status,history of smoking and knowledge of tobacco control may be important influence factors on smoking psychology.