Smoking Status and the Five-Factor Model of Personality: Results of a Cross-Sectional Study Conducted in Poland

Krzysztof Buczkowski, Małgorzata A. Basinska, Anna Ratajska, Katarzyna Lewandowska, Dorota Luszkiewicz and Alicja Sieminska
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Krzysztof Buczkowski: Department of Family Medicine, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, L. Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, M. Sklodowskiej-Curie 9, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Małgorzata A. Basinska: Institute of Psychology, Kazimierz Wielki University, Leopolda Staffa 1, 85-867 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Anna Ratajska: Institute of Psychology, Kazimierz Wielki University, Leopolda Staffa 1, 85-867 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Katarzyna Lewandowska: Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Medical University of Gdansk, Dębinki 7, 80-210 Gdańsk, Poland
Dorota Luszkiewicz: Department of Family Medicine, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, L. Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, M. Sklodowskiej-Curie 9, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Alicja Sieminska: Department of Allergology, Chair of Lung Disease, Medical University of Gdansk, Dębinki 7, 80-210 Gdańsk, Poland

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 2, 1-13

Abstract: Tobacco smoking is the single most important modifiable factor in increased morbidity and premature mortality. Numerous factors—including genetics, personality, and environment—affect the development and persistence of tobacco addiction, and knowledge regarding these factors could improve smoking cessation rates. This study compared personality traits between never, former, and current smokers, using the Five-Factor Model of Personality in a country with a turbulent smoking reduction process. : In this cross-sectional study, 909 Polish adults completed the Revised Neuroticism-Extraversion-Openness Personality Inventory. Our results showed that current smokers’ scores for extraversion, one of the five global dimensions of personality, were higher relative to never smokers. Neuroticism, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness did not differ significantly according to smoking status. Facet analysis, which described each dimension in detail, showed that current smokers’ activity and excitement seeking (facets of extraversion) scores were higher relative to those of never and former smokers. In turn, current smokers’ dutifulness and deliberation (facets of conscientiousness) scores were lower than those found in former and never smokers. Never smokers scored the highest in self-consciousness (a facet of neuroticism) and compliance (a component of agreeableness). The study conducted among Polish individuals showed variation in personality traits according to their smoking status; however, this variation differed from that reported in countries in which efforts to reduce smoking had begun earlier relative to Poland. Knowledge regarding personality traits could be useful in designing smoking prevention and cessation programs tailored to individuals’ needs.

Keywords: smoking; personality traits; Five-Factor Model; health-risk behavior (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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