Self-objectification, which is the internalization of an observer's perspective of the self, has been related to restrained and disordered eating patterns and depression. Because disordered eating and depression are known cofactors for smoking, we tested the possible involvement of trait self-objectification in the relationship between these mental health dimensions and smoking in a sample of 130 college women smokers and non-smokers. As hypothesized, we found that trait self-objectification mediated the relationship between smoking status and dieting and disordered eating behaviors. There were no significant differences in depression between smokers and nonsmokers, which limited further exploration of the relationship. Implications for trait self-objectification as relevant to women's weight-control smoking and the relevance of selfobjectification to other health behaviors are discussed.There has been a steady decline in the prevalence of smoking since the 1964 Surgeon General's Report concluded that smoking is a major health hazard (Wagner, 1971). In 1965, 51.9% of adult men and 33.9% of adult women smoked. This contrasts sharply with the prevalence of smoking in the US population in 2003 when 24.1% of men and 19.2% of women smoked (Centers for Disease Control, 2004). Although the gender gap between male and female smokers has narrowed to around 5%, these rates demonstrate that over the past 40 years men's smoking rates have declined by one-half, whereas, female smoking rates have declined at a proportionally slower rate (Centers for Disease Control, 2006). Women's smoking has been linked to behavioral and psychological correlates, including disordered eating, weight control, and depression. The aim of the current study was to determine whether selfobjectification, which is the internalization of an outside observer's view of the body, may explain the relationship between smoking and women's mental health.
Women and SmokingAmong regular smokers, women smoke longer than men do, are exposed to higher levels of nicotine, and are at greater risk for adverse respiratory outcomes over the course of their smoking history