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Differences in reasons for smoking between younger and older smokers
Author(s) -
OEI TIAN P. S.,
TILLEY DIANNE,
GOW KATHRYN
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
drug and alcohol review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.018
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1465-3362
pISSN - 0959-5236
DOI - 10.1080/09595239100185381
Subject(s) - medicine , crutch , physical therapy , engineering , structural engineering
The reasons why older people smoke have not been examined in the literature. This paper attempted to examine the differences in motivation and maintenance factors of elderly and young smokers using the Horn‐Waingrow Why do you smoke questionnaire. One hundred and thirteen clinical patients and 112 non‐patient controls were used in this study. The clinical group was divided into an elderly group ( n = 58) and a younger group (n = 55). The results of a discriminant analysis showed that patients significantly differed from non‐patients on ‘automatic habit and stimulation’, and ‘crutch/tension reduction’ factors. Elderly patients were found to be significantly differentiated from both younger patients and the control group on the ‘pleasurable relaxation’ factor. These findings offer support for the US Surgeon Generals' report that elderly smokers do have different motivating factors for their smoking behaviours from younger smokers. [Oei, TPS, Tilley, D & Gow, K. Differences in reasons for smoking between younger and older smokers. Drug Alcohol Rev 1991;10:323–330]