Associations of depression and neuroticism with smoking behavior and motives among men in rural Qalyubia (Egypt).
OBJECTIVE
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.


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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
aPublic Health Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University bThe National Hepatology and Tropical Medicine Research Institute, Cairo, Egypt cLombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC dDepartment of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Ghada N
GN
Radwan
Christopher A
CA
Loffredo
Heba
H
Abdelaziz
Sania
S
Amr
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D004534:Egypt; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D012424:Rural Population; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult