Meaning in Life: Does It Play a Role in Smoking?

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate whether a relationship exists between a decreased level of meaning in life and smoking. In 2006, 341 Hungarian respondents (48.1% males, 51.9% females) completed a questionnaire that included the Purpose in Life test, a shortened version of the Aspiration Index and the Beck Depression Inventory, as well as questions about sociodemographic characteristics, past year alcohol and illicit drug consumption, and smoking behavior. The mean age of the participants was 33.0 years (SD = 14.6), while the average years of education of the respondents was 14.5 (SD = 2.7). According to the results of the regression analysis, meaning in life proved to be significant in differentiating between nonsmokers and daily smokers. With regard to the nonsmoker vs. occasional smoker and the daily vs. occasional smoker relationship, level of life meaning was not a significant predictor. The gender-meaning in life interaction was insignificant in all three relations. Limitations of this explorative investigation are noted.

Keywords:

• smoking status
• meaning in life
• gender
• Hungary
• risk factor

Notes

The reader is referred to Hills' criteria for causation which were developed in order to help assist researchers and clinicians determine if posited risk factors were causes of a particular disease or outcomes, or merely associative (Hill, 1965). Editor's note.