Psychological Differences Between Adolescent Smoking Intenders and Nonintenders

Abstract

The present study was conducted to determine the extent to which multiple measures of personality discriminate and differentiate between adolescents who report intention to smoke cigarettes as adults and those who indicate no such intent. Subjects (N = 335) were limited to American males because of the numerous gender differences related to cigarette smoking. The 16PF Questionnaire, Form C (Cattell, Eber, & Patsuoka, 1970), was employed to assess manifold dimensions of personality, and Rosenberg's (1965) Self-Esteem Scale was administered to assess global self-concept. Cigarette smoking intention was measured by a strategy similar to that suggested by Fishbein and Ajzen (1975). MANOVA revealed that the two groups were significantly different on the psychological indices treated compositely. Multiple discriminant analysis disclosed seven personality variables capable of discriminating between the smoking intenders and the nonintenders; nonintenders were significantly more self-confident, moralistic, intelligent, conservative, tender-minded, group-oriented, and reserved than were intenders. ANOVA indicated that intenders were significantly less stable, intelligent, moralistic, self-confident, and controlled and significantly more apprehensive, liberal, self-sufficient, and tense than were nonintenders.