Differences in psychological feature between Smokers and Non-Smokers

Abstract

Purpose: In order to confirm that all smokers show a similar depressive tendency, psychological feature of smoking and non-smoking university students were comparatively examined.
Method: Subjects were typical male university students who were smokers and who were non-smokers. The two groups were compared on self-efficacy (GSES), trait/state anxiety (STAI Japanese edition), mood assessment (POMS short version), and proactivity (positive emotion evaluation scale). Two kinds of cases were examined-the smoker who can smoke freely, and the smoker who is having smoking restricted.
Results: Smokers, compared to non-smokers, had significantly lower self-efficacy, vigor, and proactivity, and had higher trait anxiety, irrespective of some of quantity of smoking.
Conclusion: The results indicated that even among smokers whose daily smoking frequency was not high, their psychological aspects were more negative than non-smokers.