Personality predicts smoking frequency: An empirical examination separated by sex

Personality is predictive of current smoking, smoking initiation, smoking progression, and smoking cessation. However, it is much unclear how the Big Five personality traits including Neuroticism, Openness, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Extraversion relate to smoking frequency and whether personality traits are similarly predictive of smoking frequency in male and female smokers. The current study examined how personality relates to smoking frequency using a nationally representative sample in the United Kingdom. Results suggested that consistent with the literature, Neuroticism is negatively related to smoking frequency. However, Conscientiousness was positively related to smoking frequency in males but negaitively related to smoking frequency in females. Some potential explanations for this sex difference were provided.

Automated summary

This study examined the relationship between personality and smoking frequency, and found that Neuroticism was negatively correlated with smoking frequency, while Conscientiousness was positively correlated with smoking frequency in males and negatively correlated with smoking frequency in females.