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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Kathleen Young, PhD and Skylur Thomas, BA Candidate. Department of Health Sciences, California State University, Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, CA 91330, 818-677-4725, kathleen.young@csun.edu

Four hundred thousand Americans die yearly as a result of tobacco use. Fifty percent of these Americans are women. Despite the literature and statistical information known regarding this, tobacco initiation and continued usage remains high especially in college-aged women 18-24. Although the literature indicates weight and weight gain as one indicator of why women initiate and continue to smoke, little research has been conducted concerning which characteristics are associated with women who do smoke and those women who do not. Strong personality traits such as sensation seeking behaviors indicate an association between personality traits and high risk behaviors. "The personality trait of sensation seekers appears to play an important mediating role in high risk behaviors such as alcohol and tobacco use and associated risk-taking behaviors in young women."

The purpose of the present study was to investigate if there was a correlation between undergraduate women tobacco product users and sensation seeking behaviors. Self-identified sensation seeking undergraduate (fulltime) women were surveyed (ages 18-30) (n=117) concerning sensation seeking behaviors and tobacco initiation and/or continued tobacco use. The following hypotheses will be presented and discussed: Hypothesis 1: There is no relationship between tobacco initiation and sensation seeking behaviors among undergraduate women. Hypothesis 2: There is no relationship between continued tobacco use and sensation seeking behaviors among undergraduate women. Hypothesis 3: There is no relationship among sensation seeking behaviors, tobacco initiation, and continued tobacco use among undergraduate women.

Results of the study and future implications will be presented and discussed.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Define M. Zuckerman's sensation seeking trait.
• Identify and discuss M. Zuckerman's (197
• Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS).
• Discuss sensation seeking behaviors of women associated with tobacco initiation.
• Discuss sensation seeking behaviors of women associated with continued tobacco use.
• Discuss the correlation between self-defined sensation seekers and tobacco initiation.
• Discuss the correlation between self-defined sensation seekers and continued tobacco use.
• Discuss the implications of self-identified sensation seeking behaviors and tobacco initiation and continued use.

Keywords: Tobacco, Women

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered