Cigarette smoking in a chest clinic population —Psychophysiologic variables

Abstract

This is a cross-sectional study of the relationship of psychosocial, physiologic and epidemiologic data to the ability to stop cigarette smoking in a private chest clinic population of 240 patients. The separation of ever and never smoked categories showed the expected differences in physiologic variables. The separation of those who stopped smoking from those who continued to smoke was significant. The primary variables associated with the capacity to stop are good psychosocial assets, psychologic stability and the ability to express depression openly. The study is consistent with the hypothesis that patients with high psychosocial assets have several behaviors to substitute for that of smoking. These patients are psychologically stable and their psychologic comfort is not seriously threatened if they need to stop smoking. Smoking may be a learned behavior associated with an increase in comfort and capacity to deal with the problems of living. To some patients who have difficulty in adapting, the dangers of smoking may not outweigh the certain loss in ability to deal with the immediate environment if they stop.