MOTIVATIONAL, EMOTIONAL, AND PERSONALITY-CHARACTERISTICS OF SMOKELESSTOBACCO USERS COMPARED WITH CIGARETTE SMOKERS

Consistent evidence from a large number of studies suggests that perso nality, motivation, and emotional factors contribute to the initiation and continued use of tobacco products. This study compared the reason s why male smokers (N = 267) and smokeless tobacco (SLT) users (N = 27 1) begin and continue to use tobacco products. The study participants completed the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ), and Spielberger 's State-Trait Personality Inventory (STPI) and Anger EXpression (AX) Scale. They also responded to questionnaires designed to evaluate the initiation, maintenance, and motivation to use tobacco. Both SLT-users and smokers reported novelty and enjoyment as the primary reasons for beginning to use tobacco products. Enjoyment, stimulation and managem ent of emotions were ranked by both groups as the most important reaso ns for continuing to use tobacco. Significant correlations of the EPQ, STPI, and AX scales with measures of the initiation, maintenance and motivation to use tobacco support Eysenck's Diathesis Stress Model in explaining the persistent use of tobacco products. (C) 1998 Elsevier S cience Ltd. All rights reserved.