Smoking Behavior among Jordanians: Physical, Psychological, Social, and Economic Reasons

To highlight the physical, psychological, social, and economic reasons related to sex differences in smoking behaviors in Jordan.

A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was conducted among Jordanian adult smokers.

Sex was a significant predictor of physical reasons related to smoking; when controlling for other factors (t₇₆₅ = 5.027; P < 0.001), women were more affected by physical factors than were men. In addition, work status was a significant predictor of physical reasons (t₇₆₅ = -2.563; P = 0.011), as was the price of cigarettes (t₇₆₅ = 2.224; P = 0.026). Age was a significant predictor of psychological reasons (t₇₆₅ = -3.092; P = 0.002): younger individuals were more likely to state psychological factors as their reason for smoking than were older individuals. Conversely, sex was a significant predictor (t₇₆₅ = 2.798; P = 0.005) of social reasons for smoking, with more men than women reporting social motivations.

Women were more likely to smoke for physical factors that are positively correlated with the price of cigarettes, rendering them less responsive to an increase in the price of cigarettes. Conversely, men were more likely to smoke for social reasons that are negatively correlated with the price of cigarettes; thus, men are more responsive to an increase in the price of cigarettes. Future public policies aiming to combat smoking in Jordan should consider sex differences in smoking behavior because one policy may not necessarily fit all.