IMPACT OF SMOKING ON PERSONALITY

Abstract

Smoking is injurious to health. Tobacco was first used by the peoples of the pre-Columbian
Americas. Native Americans apparently cultivated the plant and smoked it in pipes for medicinal
and ceremonial purposes. People smoke for different reasons. Some people smoke due to
unemployment. Some people smoke due to poverty. Some People smoke to deal with stress or
control weight. Younger may start smoking as a way of rebelling, being independent. The main
objectives of the present study was to investigate the socio-economic impact of smoking on
personality. The present study was undertaken in Faisalabad city. A sample of 200 respondents
was selected through simple random sampling techniques. The data were collected through well-
structured interviewing schedule. The collected data were analysed by using descriptive and
inferential statistics.

It is found Major proportion i.e. 44.0 percent of the respondents started the smoking just as a
fashion. About half i.e. 51.0 percent of the respondents, spent upto 10 rupees daily on smoking.
It was found majority of the respondents i.e. 80.0 percent said that the smoking is injurious for
health, 88.0 percent of told that the smoking is increase working efficiency and 72.0 percent said
that the smoking is mental satisfaction. A highly significant association between education of the
respondents and their knowledge about the society dislikes the smokers was found.

Introduction

Smoking has socio-economic and psychological impact on human personality. Smoking is a bad
social habit - not a criminal activity, although the anti-smoking law exists, its strict enforcement
can never work until you change the public's attitude. We must change this social attitude
through awareness campaigns, and not by imposing penalties. Gradually, as people become
aware of the hazards of smoking, they will give it up voluntarily (Integrated Regional
Information Networks, 2004).

All of us are aware of the harmful effects of smoking on our health and the environment around
us. Each and every part of our body gets affected by smoking. In very simple words we can say
that smokers are pushing themselves to death. Tobacco is full of different carcinogenic
chemicals. It contains Nicotine which is an addictive drug. These chemicals cause various life
threatening conditions such as lung cancer, emphysema and cardio-vascular diseases.

Tobacco use is the single most important preventable cause of disease and causes 3.5 million
premature deaths worldwide. Tobacco use primarily begins in early adolescence, reportedly
before the time of high school graduation. Factors that commonly play a role in initiation of
smoking among adolescents include social factors, smoking among family members, peers,
teachers, psychological relaxation, pleasure, and economic factors. The prevalence of and factors
associated with smoking among adolescents in inner city Karachi, Pakistan (Rozi and Akhtar,
2004).
Smoking is already ban in schools, colleges, universities, public offices, public places, and public
transport and in domestic flights for more than one decade. To strengthen the anti-smoking
movement, Pakistan International Airlines, the national flag carrier, has now banned smoking in
its all international flights as well.

Objectives

1. To find out the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents.

2. To examine the socio-economic impact of smoking on personality.

3. To investigate the effects of smoking use on the health and psychic conditions of
smoker.

4. To study the attitude of family members, friends and other relatives toward the
smoker.

5. To suggest some policy measures to control smoking.

Methodology

According to Merton (1958), methodology is the logic of scientific researches. The major
objective of the methodology, therefore, is to explain various tools and techniques applied for the
collection, analysis and interpretation of the data related to the study under investigation.

The present study was conducted in Faisalabad city. Ten localities were randomly selected from
the selected area. Data were collected from a sample of 200 respondents randomly selected from
the study area. A well designed interview schedule was prepared in the light of research
objectives. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied for data analysis.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table 1: Distribution of the respondents according to their education.

Education Frequency Percentage

Illiterate 55 27.5
Primary 83 41.5
Materic 38 19.0
Intermediate and above 24 12.0
Total 200 100.0

Table 1 indicates the educational attainments of the respondents.

About 27.5 percent of the respondents in the selected area were illiterate and major
proportion i.e. 41.5 percent had attained middle level of education, 19.0 percent had Matric level
of education, while 12.0 percent had intermediate and above level of education.

Table 2: Distribution of the respondents according to the source of first time supply of
smoking

material.

Source Frequency Percentage

Friends 131 65.5
Doctor 5 2.5
Others 64 32.0
Total 200 100.0

Table 2 reveals that majority of the respondents i.e. 65.5 percent said that their friends
were source of first time supply of smoking material, 2.5 percent said that doctor and 32.0
percent told that the other person who provided the smoking material, first time.

Table 3: Distribution of the respondents according to the reasons of start of smoking.

Reasons Frequency Percentage

To draw the attention of other 48 24.0
Increase working efficiency 20 10.0
For mental satisfaction 34 17.0
To enhance your social 5 2.5
pleasure
Just as a fashion 88 44.0
Any other 5 2.5
Total 200 100.0
 Table 3 shows that 24.0 percent of the respondents started the smoking to draw the
attention of other, while 10.0 percent started the smoking for increase working efficiency and
17.0 percent of them for mental satisfaction. About 2.5 percent of the respondents started the
smoking to enhance their social pleasure, while major proportion i.e. 44.0 percent of the
respondents started the smoking just as a fashion and 2.5 percent of the respondents started
smoking due to any other reasons.

Table 4: Distribution of the respondents according to their daily spent on smoking.

Expenditure (Rs.) Frequency Percentage

Upto 10 102 51.0
11-20 58 29.0
30 and above 40 20.0
Total 200 100.0

Table 4 shows that about half i.e. 51.0 percent of the respondents, spent upto 10 rupees
daily on smoking, while 29.0 percent of the respondents spent 11-20 rupees daily and 20.0
percent of them spent 30 and above rupees daily on smoking.

Table 5: Distribution of the respondents according to the awareness of merits and

demerits of smoking.

Awareness Frequency Percentage

Yes 137 68.5
No 63 31.5
Total 200 100.0

Table 5 depicts that a majority i.e. 68.5 percent of the respondents had awareness of
merits and demerits of smoking and only 31.5 percent had no awareness about merits and
demerits of smoking.

Table 6: Distribution of the respondents according to the merits and demerits of

smoking.

Response Frequency Percentage

Smoking is injurious for health. 160 80.0
Smoking causes cancer and heart disease 32 16.0
Smoking is increase working efficiency 176 88.0
Smoking is mental satisfaction 144 72.0

Table 6 shows that majority of the respondents i.e. 80.0 percent said that the smoking is
injurious for health, 16.0 percent said that the smoking is causes cancer and heart disease and
88.0 percent of told that the smoking is increase working efficiency and 72.0 percent said that the
smoking is mental satisfaction.

Table 7: Distribution of the respondents according to their health problems.

Health problems Frequency Percentage

No 147 73.5
TB 10 5.0
Cough 29 14.5
Abiding 10 5.0
Any other 4 2.0
Total 200 100.0

Table 7 depicts that a majority i.e. 73.5 percent of the respondents had no health problem,
while 5.0 percent of the respondent had TB disease, 14.5 percent were suffering in cough and 5.0
percent were abiding and 2.0 percent of them had any other problem (lungs problem, cancer,
chest infection etc.).

Table 8: Distribution of the respondents according to their knowledge about the

society dislikes the smokers.

Knowledge about the society Frequency Percentage

dislikes the smokers
Yes 142 71.0
No 58 29.0
Total 200 100.0
 Table 8 shows that majority i.e. 71.0 percent of the respondents had knowledge about the
society dislikes the smokers, while 29.0 percent of the respondents replied in negative.

SUGGESTIONS

1. Complete ban should be imposed on cigarette advertisement on T.V, Radio, and

Print Media.

2. Mass media should be mobilized to educate the population and pamphlets, posters
and other display material be extensively used showing the hazardous effects of drugs like
smoking, heroin etc.

3. Support of the religious leaders should be gained for the social action program and
they may be approached and encouraged to fight, against devastating evil.

4. The contacts of the addict, with the antisocial associates should be checked.

5. Family can play an important role to check their members from the involvement in
smoking addiction. The individuals, communities, organizations and the entire society have to
play a positive role for eradication of these social problems. Their honest commitments are
vitally needed to address the issue.

REFERENCES

Integrated Regional Information Networks, 2004. PAKISTAN: Anti-smoking law having little
impact. Humanitarian news and analysis.

Merton, R.K. 1957. Social theory and social structure. Free Press, American Illinois, P. 86.

Rozi, S. and S. Akhtar, 2004. Smoking among high school adolescents in Karachi, Pakistan.
International Journal of Epidemiology, Volume 33, Number 3, pp. 613-614 IJE vol.33 no.3.
International Epidemiological Association 2004.