Women's smoking behaviour - Caught by a cigarette diary

Abstract

This study explores women's smoking behaviour in relation to mood, activity and social context. A particular aim was to design a 'cigarette diary', useful for research as well as for practical purposes. Fifty female nurses and secretaries kept a diary for one to three typical work days. Diaries consisted of a set of identical sheets, each of which related to one cigarette. Pre-smoking mood and the context of smoking were carefully noted. It was hypothesized that smoking is positively related to perceived stress. Results partly supported this hypothesis, but they also showed that a majority of the cigarettes were smoked in a state of happiness and relaxation.