Association between anxiety and smoking in a sample of urban black men.
BACKGROUND
Anxiety and smoking associations have been examined previously, but not in high risk populations of smokers, such as black males, who bear an excess burden of smoking-related illnesses.


METHODS
This study assessed the relation between self-reported smoking status and anxiety using data collected by structured telephone interviews with a sample of 430 black, middle-aged males participating in an ongoing cancer prevention trial.


RESULTS
There was a significant association between anxiety caseness and smoking (p = .006), with more probable cases among current smokers. A priori t-tests showed that current smokers had greater anxiety than former and nonsmokers (p's = 0.02). Among current smokers, greater anxiety was associated with heavier smoking (p = .008), an association not present among former smokers.


CONCLUSIONS
This study could guide future experimental studies examining smoking-anxiety associations and inform intervention strategies addressing anxiety in underserved nicotine dependent populations with high tobacco-related risks.
Collins
Bradley N
BN
Health Behavior Research Center, Department of Public Health, Temple University, 1701 N. 13th St (TuZIP 265-61), Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA. collinsb@temple.edu
Lepore
Stephen J
SJ
D001741:Black or African American; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology