Patterns and predictors of tobacco consumption among women

The study examines the patterns and predictors of cigarette consumption among 920 female smokers aged 16-49 who formed part of the British Household Panel Survey, a representative survey of households in Britain. The study assesses the influence of three key factors: socio-economic circumstances, psychological health and partner's smoking status. The study confirms that female smokers are more disadvantaged than the broader population of women, both with respect to their socio-economic circumstances and their psychological health. Within this disadvantaged group, higher cigarette consumption was linked to greater socio-economic disadvantage and poorer psychological health but not partner's smoking status. Age and pregnancy status also had an independent effect on consumption. Of these factors, being in poor psychological health was the single most powerful predictor of high rates of consumption. The implications of the findings for health promotion are discussed.