Relation of personality traits with smoking status: A case control study

ABSTRACT Aim: Smoking is an important health problem which can be avoided in our country just like all the world. The number of smokers increases each day and this situation causes many diseases. Recent studies have shown that there is a correlation between smoking and types of personality. The aim of this study is to help achievements in smoking cessation by indicating the relationship between smoking and type of personality. Material and Methods: A total of 1464 patients who applied for any reason to every policlinic in Dicle University Medical Faculty took part in study. Of the patients 670 smoking were study group and 794 not-smoker were the control group. A sociodemographic data form consisting of 23 questions and Taştan Personality Inventory consisting of 44 questions were conducted to participants. SPSS 22.0 programme was used fort the statistical analyses of total data. Results: Of the participants %50,0 were females and %50,0 were males while %39,07 of females were smokers %52,46 of males were smokers according to the types of personality scale, %22,1 of the participants have personality type 2, followed by %16,7 having personality type 7 and %12,5 having personality type 4. While the rate of smoking in personality type 8 is %61,4 and the highest, the rate of smoking in personality type 1 is %37,3 and the lowest. While %40,4 of ones having personality type 8 uses tobacco product except cigarette, this rate is %14,2 in ones having personality type 3 and %16,1 in personality type 9. Conclusion: The correlation between the state of smoking and personality types one and eight is significant statistically, but a significant correlation between smoking and other personality types has not observed. There is a statistically significant correlation between personality types three, eight and nine and use of tobacco products (cigar, pipe, hookah) expect cigarette. In every application of patients, the state of smoking must be asked, the cessation of smoking must be advised to patients and be encouraged. More effective studies for smoking cessation can be carried out by considering for biopsychosocial aspects of patients and also personality types. The support of our study results by more comprehensive and multicenter studies may increase this success.