Influences on cigarette smoking quantity. Selection, stress, or culture?

The selection, job stress, and job culture models of the association between occupation and smoking quantity were empirically evaluated in a random sample of 556 employed smoking adults in Orange County, California. Almost three quarters of the sample were heavy smokers (20 or more cigarettes per day). The largest percent of heavy smokers were blue-collar workers (77%). Age, sex, ethnicity, and the industry in which one works were all associated with heavy smoking, implying that selection and culture models contribute to smoking behavior. For example, men had twice the odds of being heavy smokers than did women, and Anglos had almost two and a half times the odds of being a heavy smoker than did non-Anglos. Smokers employed in the service, financial, insurance, and retail industries were one fourth as likely to be heavy smokers as those employed in the public administration sector. Smokers employed in the public administration sector had the highest percent of heavy smokers (88.9%). Job stress was not associated with heavy smoking compared with light smoking. Smoking cessation and prevention programs should address the social and job cultures in which the behavior occurs. Job-culture models of intervention should include elements that focus on individual coping mechanisms involving susceptibility to social pressure; social environment models imply that change in organizational culture is necessary.