Purpose: Smoking addiction is influenced by cultural and environmental factors and personality traits. We assessed the associations between neuroticism and depression and smoking behavior and motives among Egyptian adult men in rural Qalyubia Governorate.
Patients and methods: Using a cross-sectional design, we administered questionnaires to randomly selected 201, 278, and 120 adult men aged 18 years or above who were never, current, and former smokers, respectively. We used Center for Epidemiologic Studies Short Depression (CES-D) scale, Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI), Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND), and Wisconsin Inventory of Smoking Dependence Motives scales to assess the associations between neuroticism, depression, and smoking risk.
Results: The mean CES-D and EPI scores were significantly higher among current smokers as compared with never smokers (P=0.02 and 0.006, respectively). The greatest risk for ever smoking was observed among those with both neuroticism and depression [adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) were 1.98 (1.23-3.19); 2.56 (1.34-4.88); and 1.82 (1.10-3.03) for ever, former, and current smokers, respectively]. Both CES-D and EPI scores were associated with a variety of smoking motives and with the level of severity or intensity of nicotine dependence on FTND.
Conclusion and recommendations: Neuroticism and depression were associated with smoking behavior and motives among Egyptians, and thus attention should be given to individual needs in designing and implementing smoking cessation interventions.