The relationships of quantified human smoking behavior and demographic variables

Abstract

This study, based on a sample (N = 517) of adult medical patients at a Southeastern Medical Center who were current users of cigarettes, reports the quantified aspects of smoking behavior and their relationship to sex, race, age, education, income and socioeconomic status of these patients. Patients from lower socioeconomic groupings had a greater number of puffs, shorter intervals between puffs, larger puff duration, shorter cigarette butts, and more daily tar and nicotine intake than the subjects from upper socioeconomic groupings. Males and older patients had longer puff duration, greater puff volume and more daily tar and nicotine intake than their counterparts. Implications of this and related studies upon the development of a social policy toward smoking and health are discussed.