Role of personality in tobacco smoking behavior in corporate sector: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background:India's corporate sector has grown steadily over the past decade, and it is providing a lot of work opportunities to Indian youth. Around 20% of employees in the corporate sector in India smoke cigarettes. In general, addictive behaviors including smoking are associated with certain personality dimensions. Hence, we conducted a study with the aims to assess the level of nicotine dependence in tobacco smokers (working in corporate sector), study their personality profile, and association of their personality traits with continuing smoking behavior.Materials and Methods:The study proposal along with its intended aims and objectives was cleared by the Institutional Ethical Review Board. It was a cross-sectional study. We used FTND for level of nicotine dependence and NEO FFI 3 for personality profile along with a structured proforma.Results:Most of the clients were of very low to low level of nicotine dependence. As high as 40% of the clients did not even attempt to quit smoking, most common reason for attempt at quitting was health concerns. Major causes of relapse were friends, people at workplace, and nature of work. Clients were high on neuroticism, average on extraversion and openness, and low on agreeableness and conscientiousness. Neuroticism was significantly associated with the level of nicotine dependence. Extraversion and openness were associated with health concerns, while agreeableness and conscientiousness were associated with social factors as a reason to quit. Extraversion and agreeableness were associated with occupational factors and social factors as reasons to relapse.Conclusion:Understanding one's personality would be helpful to identify health-enhancing (which help to attempt at quitting) and health-destructive (which were responsible for relapse) behaviors. This can further help in framing interventions that particularly target these personality traits and behaviors.

The Relationship between the Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Gene Polymorphism (Val66Met) and Substance Use Disorder and Relapse

“…Kulkarni et al [39] conducted a study to assess the level of nicotine addiction in tobacco smokers (working in the corporate sector) to learn about their personality profiles and the relationship between personality traits and continued smoking. They showed that Neuroticism was significantly related to the level of nicotine addiction.…”

Association of the rs3864283 Polymorphism Located in the HINT1 Gene with Cigarette Use and Personality Traits

“…They found no significant differences in Neuroticism, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness scores according to the NEO-FFI between smokers and non-smokers. Kulkarni et al [ 36 ] conducted a study to assess the level of nicotine dependence in tobacco smokers (working in the corporate sector) to find out their personality profile and the association of their personality traits with continued smoking. They showed that Neuroticism was significantly related to the level of nicotine dependence.…”

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“…Regarding temperament traits and character traits linked to addiction, a study involving non-motivated and motivated patients in a smoking cessation program discovered a positive correlation between novelty seeking, persistence, cooperativeness and motivation to quit smoking. However, no correlation was found between harm avoidance, reward dependence, selfdirectedness, self-transcendence and motivation to quit smoking [22,23]. Researchers are striving to develop a comprehensive smoking scale for evaluating motivation to quit.…”